- Fine sand and mineral deposits have carried on warm southerly air currents from deserts of North Africa; will fall across much of the UK in coming days
- Extra caution is required when removing the highly abrasive particles
- Autoglym shares five top tips for dealing with dust safely
Letchworth, 5 March 2026: Autoglym, the UK’s largest car care brand, is warning car owners to exercise particular caution when clearing ‘Saharan dust’ from their vehicles over the coming days, because conventional washing techniques could lead to fine scratches and swirls being etched permanently into paintwork.
Weather experts* are reporting that the dust, which comprises ultra-fine sand and mineral particles, is currently being carried on warm southerly air currents that have travelled from the deserts of North Africa, and will fall across most of the UK during Friday and through the weekend.
Many car owners will be tempted to quickly clean their cars to remove the unsightly deposits left on paintwork. However, Autoglym warns that a conventional ‘contact wash’, where a sponge and soapy water are applied direct to the dirty surface, could easily cause more harm than good.
Autoglym’s Technical Director, Paul Coley, said: “If you find your once clean car suddenly covered in a fine layer of red dust, you are not alone. The dust won’t harm your car if left alone, but if you are too eager to remove it, you may cause long-term damage to your paintwork. That will be very difficult to correct, potentially requiring a costly machine polish.”
Autoglym’s top tips for removing ‘Saharan dust’
Tip 1: Don’t write your name in it! Sand and other large particles are abrasive, so wiping with your finger or a cloth is highly likely to cause fine scratches that will then require polishing later.
Tip 2: Fight sand with snow (foam). The safest way to wash a car is to ‘pre-wash’, removing as much of the dirt as possible before physically touching the panels during the ‘contact wash’ stage. If you have a pressure washer, soak the car with a thick layer of snow foam, such as Autoglym Polar Blast. Leave it to dwell for several minutes before using lots of water to rinse it away, working from the bottom of the car upwards. If you don’t have the facility to apply a snow foam, use a pressure washer to remove as much of the dusty residues as possible before washing, again working from the bottom of the car upwards.
Tip 3: Complete a safe contact wash. Be sure to use a dedicated car shampoo (such as Autoglym Polar Wash, which is applied through a pressure washer) and wash mitt to lift and capture any particles rather than pushing them across the surface. All Autoglym shampoos are formulated to break the bond between dirt particles and paintwork, suspending it in the solution so it can be easily rinsed away at the end of the wash. If possible, use a large-capacity bucket with a grit guard, which avoids the mitt or sponge coming into contact with particles that settle to the bottom of the bucket. For best results, the ‘two bucket method’ is ideal – after each pass across the dirty car, dip the wash mitt into a second bucket filled with clean water to rinse away particles before immersing the mitt back in the wash solution, minimising contamination.
Tip 4: Correct the swirls. After drying the car, inspect for any paintwork damage. If you find any marks or light scratches you can use products that either ‘correct’ or cover the blemishes. For example, Autoglym Advanced Paint Restorer is a new compound polish that can permanently remove haze, swirls and light scratches, either by hand or by using a machine polisher. Alternatively, Autoglym Paint Reviver is a new easy-to-use coating that conceals the appearance of paint swirls and fine scratches by filling fine imperfections in the clear coat.
Tip 5: Apply a barrier to future fallout. Adding a layer of protection to the paintwork will limit the adhesion of deposits and make future washing processes much easier. This won’t stop the car from getting dirty if there is more dusty rain, but it will make removing it much simpler. Autoglym’s Rapid Ceramic Spray is very quick and easy to apply and provides three months of protection. Those with a pressure washer can quickly and easily apply a durable sealant in the form of Polar Seal.
The latest range of Autoglym products are available now from Autoglym.com, Amazon.co.uk, Halfords stores, and independent retailers.