Regular Simoniz blog readers will know that we have guides on how to clean pretty much every part of your car. But one area we’ve never covered before is cleaning badges and emblems – so now’s the time to rectify that.

Yep, this guide is here to help you clean your car’s badge like a pro. Whether you’re super proud of that shiny crest or simply want to make sure that all areas of your car stay looking their absolute best, this resource has you covered.

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How to clean a car badge

Let’s get straight down to brass tacks. Car badges aren’t difficult to clean but you may require different tools and cleaning solutions to keep them looking their shiny, just-out-the-showroom best.

So, with all that said, here are some essential steps, tips and advice on cleaning and conditioning your car’s badge and exterior trim.

Self service car wash, pressure washer used

What you’ll need to clean a car badge

Don’t worry – you won’t need tons of specialist tools for cleaning up your car’s emblem. Most of the things required for the job should be part of your regular car washing kit, including:

  • High-quality car shampoo or snow foam
  • Pressure washer or hose
  • Two buckets (one for clean water, the other for soiled)
  • Car wash sponge
  • Chamois leather
  • Soft-bristled toothbrush (for intricate cleaning)

Clean your car’s badge in 5 steps

  1. Start by giving your car a thorough all-over wash. We’d recommend using a premium brand shampoo and snow foam for this, as you’ll achieve fantastic results with minimal scrubbing required to remove tough dirt and grime. The Simoniz blog contains tons of guides on washing your car if you need any help.
  1. Once the rest of your car is clean, you can focus on the badge. Blast away any loose dirt, dust and debris with a pressure washer or hose before applying any cleaning product. We’d recommend leaving a product like Simoniz Snow Foam to work on the surface of the batch for a few minutes before rinsing off, as this will allow the product to dissolve any remaining dirt and baked-on grime.
  1. If your car’s badge is particularly intricate and fiddly and has lots of small spaces where dirt has accumulated over time, we’d recommend a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean out these hard-to-reach areas; a cotton bud can also come in handy. Whatever you use, make sure it’s soft and unlikely to cause any surface scratches or abrasions.
  1. Once you’re confident all dirt and grime has been removed, we’d recommend drying the badge with a chamois leather. Chamois leathers are ideal for this kind of use, quickly absorbing moisture while allowing you to achieve a high-shine finish, even without further conditioning treatment.
  1. Badge all dry? Move on to the next step – enamel conditioning and treatment.
Auto Detailing - Man Washing Car with Micorfiber Towel - Close Up

Caring for car badges: How to achieve a just-bought shine

Let’s be honest: for many of us, the badge is the main reason we buy certain cars. That’s why it’s so important to know how to look after these shiny emblems, so they continue to hold the same prestige and value they did when they rolled off the factory floor.

Most car badges are made using a process called chrome injection moulding. The presence of chrome in a vehicle badge is beneficial for a few reasons, including:

  • Minimises the risk of surface abrasion
  • Highly resistant to oxidation and corrosion
  • Easy to keep looking shiny and clean

Despite all this, car badges still need a little help from time to time. So, here’s a quick guide on how to condition your car’s badge to maintain that premium shine…

  1. After cleaning your car and its badges, find yourself a premium car polish and a soft microfibre cloth.
  1. Add a small amount to the corner of the cloth and, using your finger, apply it to the surface of the badge in a light circular motion. This will help to lift any light scratches, marks, oxidation and surface abrasion, creating the ideal surface for further detailing products.
  1. To protect the badge and aid shine, we’d now recommend applying a light layer of car wax to the surface. Simoniz Original Wax is suitable for a range of metal surfaces and helps protect it from future abrasion and corrosion while delivering a deep, glossy shine.
  1. In the same way that you applied the polish, add the wax to the badge in a smooth, even layer. Leave the wax to work for a couple of minutes before buffing off with a clean and dry microfibre towel to reveal an outstanding shine.

Cleaning your car’s badge might not seem all that important, but it can help to provide that finishing touch to your car cleaning and detailing efforts. If you require the right tools for the job, the Simoniz range of exterior car care products has everything you need.