🎆 How to Protect Your Vehicle from Gunpowder Residue This Bonfire Night:

🎆 How to Protect Your Vehicle from Gunpowder Residue This Bonfire Night:

Bonfire Night is one of the most loved evenings of the year — fireworks, sparklers, and celebrations lighting up the November sky. But while it’s fun for us, it can be harsh on your car’s paintwork and glass.

Gunpowder residue, ash, and fallout from fireworks can settle on your vehicle overnight, leading to surface damage, dull paint, and staining if left untreated.

At Gold Label Car Care, we’ve put together your complete guide to protecting your vehicle before Bonfire Night — and how to safely clean away gunpowder residue after.

Step 1: Protect Your Car Before Bonfire Night:

Even if you can’t keep your car in a garage, there are simple ways to prepare and shield it from fallout.

1. Apply a Quality Pre-Wax or Sealant:

Before the festivities begin, apply a high-quality wax or paint sealant. This creates a sacrificial barrier between your paint and any contaminants.

Try using our paint sealants and waxes for long-lasting protection — Shop Paint Protection.

A hydrophobic layer makes it much harder for gunpowder particles or ash to bond to the surface, meaning cleanup will be far easier later. We would recommend Koch Chemie Protector Wax. Koch-Chemie Protector Wax is an innovative, high-tech, conserving wax which sets new standards in matters of protection and durability. It provides an extreme deep gloss, long-term water repellency (lotus effect), easy-to-clean performance, and vehicle drying without micro-beading. 

2. Use a Ceramic Spray for Extra Defence:

For even stronger protection, a ceramic spray coating is ideal. These coatings provide heat and chemical resistance, making them perfect for defending your car’s finish against acidic residues from fireworks.

Check out our ceramic coating range to give your paintwork that glassy, self-cleaning finish — Shop Ceramic Coatings. We would recommend Collinite No.100 Beadcoat.  Collinite Beadcoat is an easy to use sealant featuring an SiO2 graphene structure. It provides ultra-durable hydrophobic protection and a high gloss, super slick finish to a variety of automotive exterior surfaces.

 3. Don’t Forget the Glass:

Gunpowder particles can cling to windscreens and windows, so using a dedicated glass sealant is a smart move. It will stop residue from bonding and improve visibility if you’re driving home through smoky air.

Browse our range of glass protection products here — Shop Glass Care. We would recommend Soft99 Glaco. Ultra Glaco is a legend in the liquid wiper category and one of the most popular products of this kind in the world. Thanks to the Fusso technology of fluoropolymers being used here, it is unsurpassed in terms of durability of up to 12 months and resistance to harsh weather conditions. 

Step 2: Cleaning Your Car After Bonfire Night:

If your car has been exposed overnight, it’s important to wash it as soon as possible. The longer residue sits on your vehicle, the more likely it is to etch, stain, or dull the finish.

1. Start with a Snow Foam Pre-Wash:

Begin by blanketing your vehicle in pH-neutral snow foam. This will safely loosen gunpowder dust and soot without scratching your paint. Allow it to dwell, then rinse thoroughly before contact washing.

Try our professional Snow Foams and Pre-Washes — Shop Snow Foam.

2. Use a Gentle Contact Wash:

Follow with a two-bucket wash method and a soft microfibre wash mitt. Avoid aggressive scrubbing — fine gunpowder particles can act like sandpaper. We recommend pairing a lubricated shampoo with our microfibre and detailing towels for a swirl-free finish — Shop The House of Rags.

3. Decontaminate if Needed:

If you notice any roughness after washing, you can safely remove bonded fallout using an iron remover or clay bar, followed by reapplying your wax or sealant layer for ongoing protection.

Explore our Decontamination & Specialist Cleaners — Shop Specialist Cleaners.

Step 3: Maintain the Shine:

After your Bonfire Night cleanup, keep your car looking its best with regular top-ups of quick detailer sprays and ceramic boosters. These products maintain gloss, hydrophobicity, and long-term protection — especially useful during the damp, residue-prone months of late autumn.

Final Thoughts:

Bonfire Night might bring sparkle to the skies, but it doesn’t need to dull your car’s shine.
With the right car protection routine, you can easily prevent and remove gunpowder residue — keeping your paintwork glossy, your glass clear, and your vehicle ready for the next celebration.

For all your Bonfire Night car care essentials, shop trusted products from Gold Label Car Care — the UK’s home of premium detailing and protection products.

Shop Now at Gold Label Car Care.