Many individuals are learning to embrace DIY tips for car washing mindset when maintaining their car's finest appearance in the COVID-19 age, where cleanliness and sanitation are more crucial than ever.
That's why we decided to give some quick and simple car washing tips for getting a polished vehicle wash without hurting your back or budget!
Below are ten simple rules on how to wash your car like a pro:
1. Steer clear of the car wash
It is alluring to enter the drive-through car wash, shift into neutral, and let the robot arms do everything. However, power hoses can damage your paintwork if the pressure is too high, and car washes can be pretty harsh.
Ideally, you should use a power hose with a wide spray pattern or, if that's not possible, a standard hose with a wide spray pattern.
2. Park in the Shade
If it's a scorching day, park your car in the shade before you start. You don't want the hot sun to evaporate the water you're using and leave your paint with unattractive streaks.
When you clean the surface without any lubrication, this dryness increases the surface's susceptibility to scratching. Therefore, never dry wipe a painted surface.
Also, remember that the chemicals used to wash the car weren't intended to be used on heated surfaces. Consider delaying the start of your car wash until later in the day rather than when the sun is at its brightest.
3. Check your car wash attire
Nobody requires you to dress in jumpsuit overalls like in mechanic shops, but you should constantly be aware of any items you may have on you that could damage the car's finish.
Take off your jewelry, especially belt buckles, watches, and rings. You don't want things like a belt buckle scratching up against the automobile's paintwork if you're resting against it while conducting some intense cleaning of the hood.
4. Work from top to bottom
Gravity is your friend while cleaning your car's interior, so follow that rule of thumb. Let the water flow down the automobile, picking up the dirt as it goes, starting at the top and working your way down.
This is advantageous since you don't want to move dirt from the bottom of the automobile to the top using your sponge or cloth.
The one exception to this guideline is when it comes to your wheels. You may want to wash your rims first since if you wash your wheels last, the rinse water will certainly splatter back into your now-dry paint job.
Watermarks are created as a result, necessitating a second pass over the body, which we want to avoid.
5. Microfibre cloths & towels are ESSENTIAL
Ensure you have a supply of reusable, washable soft microfiber cloths before you fill a bucket or turn on the water. Microfiber towels (with tags removed) are incredibly absorbent and safe for paint, glass, trim, and wheels, so forget about using old t-shirts and paper towels. They are almost as affordable as paper towels.
6. Avoid these kitchen essentials
Never use these scouring pads on your spotless bodywork; every household has at least one yellow and green sponge lying about someplace. Instead, utilize softer materials, such as microfiber cloth to protect your paint finish.
Another thing that will stop your paint job is towels. If you remember just one thing from this page, make it that microfibre or another material with a similar softness level should be your only choice for cloth.
Dish soap may be suitable for cleaning your dishes but not your paint or wax finish. Avoid using degreasers and choose an all-purpose cleaner or specialized car wash soap instead.
7. Clean your equipment
Always be sure to properly clean your buckets, tools, and towels to remove any dirt or debris that could cause your car to get scratched the next time. In addition, you must never wash microfiber detailing towels with other clothes since they will gather lint and lose effectiveness.
8. Two Buckets = one Great Wash
You would believe cleaning a car needs a single bucket of water and soap, but you'd be mistaken! At least two buckets should be used—one for rinsing and the other for washing.
You should thoroughly rinse your dirty microfiber cloth before putting it in clean soap water. Particles and debris are not left on the fabric where they can ruin your flawless paintwork but are left in the rinse bucket.
9. Careful with interior detailing
Using a leather and chemical cleaner straight on items like your steering wheel, gear shift, or even brake pedals is a typical mistake, according to automotive maintenance experts.
Due to the possibility of the part being slippery, this can be risky. You do not want your foot to depress the brake pedal accidentally. When utilizing interior cleaning agents, spray the agent first on a paper towel rather than directly into the leather or vinyl of your car.
10. The right way to dry
Don't just use any old t-shirt or wash towel to dry the paint on your car. It bears emphasizing that you should never dry-wipe your painted surface; instead, use a microfibre cloth that is consistently damp enough to do the job.
Move the cloth in a single direction as you work your way down from the top to avoid streaks and scratches. No circular motions like in The Karate Kid!
Conclusion
DIY car washing tips for getting a polished vehicle wash without hurting your back or budget. Use a power hose with a wide spray pattern or, if that's not possible, a standard hose. Never dry wipe a painted surface; gravity is your friend while cleaning your car's interior. Watermarks are created as a result, necessitating a second pass over the body, which we want to avoid. Microfibre cloths & towels are essential for protecting your paint job.
