Your car is an important investment and you want it to both look nice and run well for as long as possible. In our sunny climate it can be hard to keep paint looking glossy and new. dirt, salt and Sun and infrequent rains all conspire to make your car’s exterior look old before its time.
You could do some damage if you do not follow a few simple guidelines, though washing a car seems simple. In addition there are many myths as to the easiest way to wash a vehicle. So, to make your car shine and look its best, below are a few basic car-washing tips and myth busters.
When must I wash the car?
Not always realistic, though weekly is wonderful. Just do not wait until the layer of crud in the car is so thick that this neighborhood kids are tempted to write “wash me” on the rear window. Once you leave dead bugs, bird droppings and road dirt on your car for too long they leach acids, strip away wax and eat into your car’s paint. Should you never wash your car you will certainly be in for a costly surprise when you really need a new paint job to mend the damage. You should rinse your car after rainy weather if you live in acid rain territory.
Which kind of products should I use?
You can find a million car wash products out out there. Manufacturers would love you to think that only their product is good to use on cars and therefore anything else will strip from the wax. Whatever you can tell from all the information out there is that it is best to use a gentle soap with lots and lots of suds. Also, use a large, soft sponge or rinse and mitt often so that you tend not to scratch the car with any accumulated dirt. No matter what product you use, some wax will come off.
The all-in-one car washing and waxing product is a myth. You cannot wash and wax a vehicle at the same time; the two things are at cross-purposes. You need to first clean the surface by washing the car and then apply wax to some clean surface. Any product that claims that it can do both in one application is just not doing a great job at either.
Are there any general guidelines I will follow when washing an auto?
Try not to wash your car in direct sunlight or when the body is hot. The heat from the car speeds the drying of water and soap, making washing tougher and boosting the chances that spots or deposits will form.
Rinse the full car thoroughly with water before you begin washing to remove loose dirt and debris that can cause scratching to start. Work from the top down and do one section at the same time to avoid spotting from dried soap or water.
When rinsing, will not use the fire hose attachment, a nice gentle water flow over the car from top to bottom will help create a sheeting action and reduce spotting and pooling of water.
Make a huge amount of suds in your bucket so you can really lather the car with sudsy rinse and soap the sponge often. Work with a separate bucket to rinse the sponge so that it is clean when you input it in the wash water if you really want to obtain it right.
If you have tiny specks of dirt on your car you might end up creating circular marks around the car, another tip would be to never wash the car in the circular motion because. If the sponge falls in the dirt wash it out well, you may not want any dirt particles to scratch your car’s paint, and obviously.
Some car owners use two sponges, one for above the “belt line” from the car and another for underneath the “belt line”. This assumes that one area is dirtier than the other and that you would not want to spread around all that dirt that is not going to come off with the rinse. Regardless if you use one or two sponges for the rest of the car, be sure to use a separate cloth or sponge for the wheels, which tend to get extremely mucked up with sand, brake dust and other debris that could really mar up a car’s finish.
How should I dry the car when I’m done?
If you let the car air dry or drive it around the block to “dry” it, you can expect watermarks, specifically if you live in a location with hard water. Instead, get a bunch of soft terrycloth towels or a chamois to dry off every one of the water. Be sure to blot the liquid instead of dragging the towel over the paint, as this will prevent scratching a result of any leftover debris.
What about the underside of the car?
Getting rid of all the road debris that accumulates on the under structure of your car is really important in keeping your car rust free. When these debris build up, they harbor moisture for hours as well as days following a rainy spell and give rise to the development of rust. If you live near to the ocean or even in an area where salt or other chemicals are being used on the road, it really is especially vital that you rinse off the underside of your car to prevent rust and wear on the metal. After you give your car the first soaking rinse, get underneath and rinse off the underside too.
Can you imagine if I don’t have time to do the ultimate hand car wash?
Do not worry. In this busy world that has the time to clean their cars every weekend? Try a computerized car wash in between hand-washing the car.
Are high-pressure car washes really bad?
If all you ever did was use a high-pressure car wash, it would be worse for your car than always hand-washing correctly. But, if you do not get the time to baby your car every weekend then it is fine try using a high-pressure car wash.
Many car experts use wand type car washes on a regular basis. For example, on non-freezing days in the winter, these are great to help keep the salt and crud off your car or truck when you cannot wash it by hand. And a few car experts admit to using a full service car wash. It is way better than leaving acid poop, dirt, rain and worse on your car if the weather will not enable you to do it right.
Our advice: Search for newer washes or the ones that are maintained well. Look over the business yourself and see if it looks like it will be at least somewhat kind to your paint. You should also carry a chamois or soft cloth to dry if you go through a self-service car wash that does not quite get the job done.
