Washing your car doesn't involve rocket science, right? Yes, but there are certain things you should keep in mind when cleaning your car.
Clean your car the right way and it'll look good and preserve its coat better.
Clean your car the wrong way and it'll look marred and could damage the paint.
With this in mind, let's take a look at the right way to wash your car.
Rinse with care - You need to rinse off built up dirt, dust and grime, but this initial step needs to be done with care.
Some "do it yourself" car washes feature high powered wands, but the per square inch pressure may be too high for your car.
Instead, set the pressure to a gentle cycle and wash your car off back and forth and up and down.
From the roof to the hood and down to the fascia around the sides and to the trunk or back end you'll go, rinsing your car thoroughly.
Save the high pressure device for the wheels.
Clean with responsibility - There are two problems related to washing your car yourself that are often not realized by car owners.
The first is the run off which can pollute streams.
The second is the amount of water used which can strain nearby watersheds.
With the former you should choose a biodegradable detergent, one that uses a water-based cleaner and is phosphate free advises the EPA.
With the latter, you can limit the amount of water used by using a spray gun with a water restriction device.
Work in the shade - Bright sunlight is lovely when the temperatures are just warm enough to don the jacket and still cool enough where you won't boil.
However, direct sunlight is never good for your car, especially when you're planning to clean it.
Instead, work early or work late or work in the shade where the sun won't streak your finish and force you to play "hurry up" as it dries the paint before you can get to it.
Use two buckets - Plan on using two 5-gallon buckets to clean your car advises Detail City.
Fill both buckets up with water - one will include your cleanser, the other will be used to rinse your mitt or sponge.
Leave your mitt or sponge in the soapy water to soak up the detergent as this will make it easier for you to apply cleanser to your car.
Top to bottom - Clean from the top of your car and work your way to the bottom.
Whatever is on top will work its way to the bottom, but you'll save steps by taking a section by section approach to cleaning your car.
Use a gentle, circular motion to clean your car off.
Avoid rubbing; the soap should be able to handle everything if you give it time to penetrate.
Rinse thoroughly - Once the soap has been applied and distributed across the car, then you'll rinse it off with your hose from top to bottom.
Place your mitt and sponge in the clean bucket.
Dry with precision - Old and clean t-shirts, towels and chamois can be used to dry off your car.
Using circular strokes, work your way from top to bottom and to the sides.
Use several towels, going to the next one as soon as the first one is soaked.
Don't delay drying your car either - water spots can form in mere minutes.
Use separate towels and cleaner for your windows; apply special tire detailing as needed.
That's it! Most cars can be thoroughly cleaned inside of 20 minutes or 30 minutes if you need to handle grime.
Dispose of your dirty water carefully, avoiding drainage that leads to streams and watershed areas.
A slop sink or toilet is a good place or, if you used environmentally safe cleanser, dump it on your lawn.
Clean your car the right way and it'll look good and preserve its coat better.
Clean your car the wrong way and it'll look marred and could damage the paint.
With this in mind, let's take a look at the right way to wash your car.
Rinse with care - You need to rinse off built up dirt, dust and grime, but this initial step needs to be done with care.
Some "do it yourself" car washes feature high powered wands, but the per square inch pressure may be too high for your car.
Instead, set the pressure to a gentle cycle and wash your car off back and forth and up and down.
From the roof to the hood and down to the fascia around the sides and to the trunk or back end you'll go, rinsing your car thoroughly.
Save the high pressure device for the wheels.
Clean with responsibility - There are two problems related to washing your car yourself that are often not realized by car owners.
The first is the run off which can pollute streams.
The second is the amount of water used which can strain nearby watersheds.
With the former you should choose a biodegradable detergent, one that uses a water-based cleaner and is phosphate free advises the EPA.
With the latter, you can limit the amount of water used by using a spray gun with a water restriction device.
Work in the shade - Bright sunlight is lovely when the temperatures are just warm enough to don the jacket and still cool enough where you won't boil.
However, direct sunlight is never good for your car, especially when you're planning to clean it.
Instead, work early or work late or work in the shade where the sun won't streak your finish and force you to play "hurry up" as it dries the paint before you can get to it.
Use two buckets - Plan on using two 5-gallon buckets to clean your car advises Detail City.
Fill both buckets up with water - one will include your cleanser, the other will be used to rinse your mitt or sponge.
Leave your mitt or sponge in the soapy water to soak up the detergent as this will make it easier for you to apply cleanser to your car.
Top to bottom - Clean from the top of your car and work your way to the bottom.
Whatever is on top will work its way to the bottom, but you'll save steps by taking a section by section approach to cleaning your car.
Use a gentle, circular motion to clean your car off.
Avoid rubbing; the soap should be able to handle everything if you give it time to penetrate.
Rinse thoroughly - Once the soap has been applied and distributed across the car, then you'll rinse it off with your hose from top to bottom.
Place your mitt and sponge in the clean bucket.
Dry with precision - Old and clean t-shirts, towels and chamois can be used to dry off your car.
Using circular strokes, work your way from top to bottom and to the sides.
Use several towels, going to the next one as soon as the first one is soaked.
Don't delay drying your car either - water spots can form in mere minutes.
Use separate towels and cleaner for your windows; apply special tire detailing as needed.
That's it! Most cars can be thoroughly cleaned inside of 20 minutes or 30 minutes if you need to handle grime.
Dispose of your dirty water carefully, avoiding drainage that leads to streams and watershed areas.
A slop sink or toilet is a good place or, if you used environmentally safe cleanser, dump it on your lawn.
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