My life is over scheduled, so the drive through car wash is usually the best that my vehicle sees. But some of you just love to wash your car on your own. If the thought of a bucket of soapy water and a sponge makes you smile, read on to find out the right, and wrong, way to wash your car.
Wash Weekly:
Washing your car weekly is the best way to remove contaminants that can cause damage if allowed to remain on your car long term. One of these is brake dust. It contains metal shavings from the rotors and adhesives used in the brake pads. Brake dust is highly corrosive and very sticky.
Tools of the Trade
In general, sponges and mitts plush or have a deep nap are better than flat weave towels or dense sponges. Natural sea sponges work great. There are a lot of nooks and crannies to collect dirt, and the sponge will not harm the finish. Microfiber mitts and towels are another great option. You can find all of these in most automotive sections.
Proper Washing:
First of all, never wash your car in the sun. Find a nice shady spot. Always wash your tires first. If you get tire cleaner on the car, you can simple remove it when you wash the car. Use a cleaner that is safe for all wheels. Wash and rinse each tire thoroughly.
Now to the main part of the car. Make sure to use two buckets, one with soapy water and one with clean water. Dip your sponge or mitt into the clean water before each dip into the soapy water. This removes all grit and contaminates from the sponge, and avoiding swirl marks when you wash. Always rinse the whole vehicle before washing to remove all lose dirt and debris. For tough spots use a special tar and bug remover. When rinsing you don’t need to blast it with a hose, free flowing water will rinse the vehicle more thoroughly.
Proper Drying:
Never skip drying. If you do you will get water spots, which are caused by minerals, and can cause scratches. There are many ways to dry your car, but whatever method you choose, do it quickly to get avoid water spots. You can use a paint safe squigee, a microfiber towel or a synthetic chamois towel. Regular terry towels leave behind link and increase the changes of swirl marks. Dry the windows first, and use a different towel for the tires than on the body to avoid cross contamination.
Finishing Up:
You can use a spray wax or spray sealant to help protect your car’s finish. But if you are going to apply another coat of wax, skip this step.
Clean Water Makes For A Clean Car:
No water is pure. A lot of water contains sediments. Tap water is usually filtered. But if you have a well, you likely have sediment AND hard water. You can help this situation by using a Clear Inline Hose Filter, which will clean and soften the water before it reaches your vehicle.
There are lots of products on the market to make the job easier, more fun and allow you to protect the finish on your vehicle, which in turn protects your investment. Vehicles aren’t cheap, so protect your investment by regular washing and waxing.