Triplewax Sales Reach All-Time High As Saharan Sand Coats The UK’s Cars
Saharan sand and the start of spring have seen sales of one of the nation’s biggest car shampoos reach an all-time high – and prompted a warning from the company’s chemists about potential damage to cars.
Sales of Triplewax Car Shampoo had already peaked in 2013, when more than 1.5 million bottles were sold. In the past week, makers Tetrosyl say sales figures have rocketed as retailers increase their orders to cope with demand prompted by an unusual occurrence.
Marium Ali, group marketing director for Triplewax’s parent company, Tetrosyl, said: “We usually expect sales figures to rise in readiness for the Easter weekend because of the arrival of warmer weather and the fact people have more leisure time. However, over the last week, the start of spring has coincided with a Saharan storm that’s seen us waking up to find our cars coated with a layer of desert sand, and we think this is why sales have jumped to one bottle of Triplewax Car Shampoo per second of the working day. We’ve asked the chemists in our laboratories to analyse the effect of this dust on car paintwork, and we’ve been alarmed by what they’ve found.”
Anthony Dymond, who led the investigation, said: “This hard particulate contaminant is extremely abrasive, and can cause serious damage to your car’s paintwork. As you would expect of a gritty powder that has blown in from the Sahara Desert, it is largely made up of fine sand, which is very similar to ground glass. It isn’t water soluble so we recommend rinsing your car off very carefully, using plenty of water prior to washing. If safe to do so, we advise not to open your windows or use your wipers until you’ve done this so that you don’t scratch your car’s glass with the dust that has built up on the rubber of your window seals or windscreen wipers. Using Triplewax Shampoo and a sponge, wash brush or wool mitt, wash the vehicle using light pressure and straight line motions to avoid creating swirl marks in the paintwork, rinsing the sponge or mitt frequently.”
Halfords, one of the largest retailers of Triplewax Car Shampoo in the UK, is ensuring its stores have ample stock ahead of the weekend to cope with expected demand.
Halfords’ paint protection expert David Howells said: “To help British motorists address the problem, we have created a special bundle deal of bucket, sponge and bottle of Triplewax Car Shampoo for just £4.”
