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How do I wash my car? Where do I start?
If you are asking yourself these questions then you are in the right place. Washing a car is simple isn't it? Water soap and scrub right? Wrong. Unless you are trying to ruin your paint I wouldn't recommend that approach. Keep reading to learn how to properly wash your car.What you'll need.
You'll notice I added time as a requirement. I did so because most people assume they can wash their car in a few minutes and be on their way. Of course they can however they will forget certain sections and possibly damage the paint. So let us see how one should approach washing a car.
1.Find a shaded area. Avoid direct sunlight, it dries up the soap and water faster and leaves water marks. Try to park the car on an incline, this will help the water run off the car. Hose down the car. Start from the top and work your way down and around the car. This step allows the bigger particles to fall off and not be rubbed into the paint.
2. Start with your wheels. When wheels are cleaned they may splash brake dust and other contaminants. you don't want those ending up on your freshly cleaned car. Use a separate cleaning cloth for wheels. Because brake dust is metal you don't want to be rubbing that into your cars paint. Also change the water from the bucket and thoroughly rise it before putting your favorite shampoo in.
3. Get your car soap/shampoo and pour a generous amount into a clean bucket. Do not use dishwashing soap as it will strip any wax you may have on your car. (See the waxing section for a time when you'll want to use dishwashing soap.) Fill it with warm water. By putting warm water I found that the soap foams better and it keeps my hands warm. Fill the second bucket with fresh water. The first bucket will be used to soap up the mitt or sponge and the second will be to rise the mitt or sponge. By separating the two buckets we allow the dirty water to be separated from the clean water. This will help eliminate swirl marks (or spider webs) in the paint. Read the instructions on the label of your favorite shampoo, you will find the recommended ratio. If you use too much you may be required to rinse the car more.
4. Sponge or mitt? Well with a sponge you are able to hold more water and shampoo. the draw back though is that it picks up fine particles and keeps them on the surface. This will increase the odds of seeing more scratches. A mitt will follow the lines of the car better and get into harder to reach areas with more ease. Follow the lines of the car when washing. Do not make circular motions . Doing so will promote swirl marks. by following the contours of the car if there are scratches they will be less visible. Don't forget to rinse your car often while washing it. As mentioned start at the top. Then work from section to section rinsing often. This way you wont forget a spot.
5. If you have bugs and tar on your paint remove it as soon as possible. A good bug and tar remover will work great. Follow the instructions. Be sure to test in a less visible area first. Rinse when done. If you still cant get rid of the spot try a clay bar.
6. Dry the car. Nope I don't mean leave it in the sun. You'll want to get a micro fiber towel to wipe down the car to avoid water marks. You may also want to spray on a wax-as-you-dry product as the final step.
Now you know the basics of properly washing a car. You can now go and try these techniques on your own ride.< Prev - Next >