Skip advert
Advertisement
Tips & advice

How to clean desert dust off your car

Each year Saharan desert dust leaves thousands of UK cars looking distinctly grimy. Here’s our guide on how to clean yours

Porsche Macan dust

It seems to be almost a yearly occurrence; a dust cloud filled with sand from the Sahara blows its way over the UK, leaving cars covered in a fine layer of dusty sand.

The Saharan dust, also known as ‘blood rain’ for its red colouring, is lifted from the Sahara desert by strong winds and carried high into the atmosphere where it gets caught inside rain droplets. When it rains, the water droplets bring the sand particles back down to earth and leave a fine red dust on surfaces such as cars once the water has evaporated. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Auto Express Product Awards

While you might be inclined to just let the dust settle on your car and wait for the inevitable rainy British weather to simply clean your car for you, the tiny dust particles are abrasive and can leave fine scratch marks over your car which could lead to issues further down the line when you come to sell or part exchange it.

Saharan desert dust: how to get it off your car

Removing the dust from your car may seem a simple job of taking your car through a car wash but automated car washes and jet wash brushes can also leave small scratches on the paintwork. Our Auto Express car care experts have some simple steps for removing the troublesome dust from your car.

Firstly, rinse your car off using an ordinary hosepipe, preferably on its most powerful setting. Remember to start from the bottom of the car and work your way up. Then use a good quality car shampoo (washing up liquid can damage your cars paintwork) and a quality sponge or car-cleaning mitt.

Once your car has been cleaned, it is important to dry your car off so that streak marks do not form. A good quality leather chamois or drying cloth should help remove any water residue and give your car a fresh, gleaming look.

Don’t forget to visit our Accessories and Tyres page for all of our car care and maintenance product reviews…

Skip advert
Advertisement

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
MG IM5 - Goodwood front

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range

The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
News
10 Jul 2025
New MG Cyberster Black is a dark sign of things to come for the brand
Cyberster Black - front 3/4

New MG Cyberster Black is a dark sign of things to come for the brand

MG boss thinks special editions like this might be the ticket to keeping up demand for the electric sports car
News
10 Jul 2025
Vauxhall Mokka vs Hyundai Kona: small hybrid SUVs in a big battle
Vauxhall Mokka vs Hyundai Kona - front end

Vauxhall Mokka vs Hyundai Kona: small hybrid SUVs in a big battle

Hybrid newcomers slug it out for family buyers’ hearts and minds
Car group tests
12 Jul 2025