Mastering Car Care
Whether you're a novice or consider yourself a car care enthusiast, mastering the art of washing your car like a pro is within reach. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through ten expert tips and techniques for washing your car and leaving your vehicle sparkling from bumper to bumper.
10 Pro Tips for Cleaning Your Car
1. Wash the Glass Last
The windows and other glass surfaces are the last things that you should wash off as it may trap in dirt particles from other parts of the car as you are washing it. Start by using a glass cleaner that doesn't contain ammonia as it can potentially harm some surfaces while also creating an unappealing odor.
A microfiber cloth may be added to the windows as you wipe them off. It will clean off your cleaning solution while taking in oils and other particles. Also, it will not leave a great deal of fibers around the surface of the glass nor will it cause streaks to develop as you wash it.
Don't forget to roll down the side windows by a bit as you wash them. You can clean off the top edges of the windows when you do this. You can do this after the rest of the car has been cleaned off and dried.
2. Wash Just One Section at a Time
Don't bother trying to add soap to the entire car at once. Focus on one section of the car at a time and then rinse that section off before going on to the next one. Do this as many times as needed and rinse off the entire car one more time after you are done washing. Don't forget to target the top surfaces first before moving on to the bottom ones.
3. Wash From the Top Down
You should start washing your car from the top even if you are struggling to reach all parts of your car's roof. You can keep soap scum and excess dirt from getting into areas that you just cleaned. Also, you can establish a proper schedule for how you will go about washing all parts of the car.
4. Dry Along the Contours
Don't use a circular motion when drying off your car. This will potentially cause scratches around the car and may keep some wet surfaces from being cleared off completely.
Instead, dry off the car by moving along with its contours. Move the cloth from one side to the next to get water to gradually move off while keeping from adding more pressure onto the body.
5. Avoid Acids on the Tires
People often use acidic cleaners on their tires to get rid of tough residues that are often hard to wash off on their own like brake dust. However, an acidic cleaner will create oxidation on the tires, thus causing the finish on the tires to wear out quickly. This in turn can keep the tires from looking as beautiful as they should. You must avoid using acidic cleaners; instead, use a degreaser and a cleaning brush to clean off those surfaces.
6. Avoid Dish or Laundry Soap
You must always use car-washing soap that is formulated to work on your car's surface. Dish and laundry soap can harm wax finishes or other coatings on your car, thus making it vulnerable to outside damage. A detergent may also potentially harm your paint job.
7. Avoid Using a Bucket of Water
While you could consider adding water into a bucket and pouring in some car wash soap, that may do more harm to your vehicle than good. First, you only have a limited amount of water to work within your bucket when compared with what you'd get out of a regular hose and spray nozzle.
Second, the sponge or rag you use to clean off your car may take in dirt from your car's surface. As you rinse it out, the dirt will move back into the water and onto your rag or sponge again.
8. Avoid Washing in the Sun
You must always avoid washing your car while it is sunny out. The cool water used when washing your car will cause the car's hot surface to contract. This in turn causes the paint to crack apart, thus harming your vehicle's finish.
9. Avoid Dry Cloths
While you will have to dry off the vehicle after you wash it, you must avoid using a dry cloth to take care of that process. A dry cloth may contain dust particles and hard fabrics that may scratch your car's surface.
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It is best to use a terry towel or cotton surface to dry off the car instead. These can take in large water spots without hurting your car. These towels themselves can also be washed on their own, thus making them reusable for years to come.
You can even use small cotton swabs to get into the smaller areas that are hard for a towel to reach into. Old toothbrushes can also be useful if you need to scrub off some stubborn stains that might not have been removed the first time around.
10. Use Compressed Air on the Inside
The inside surfaces of your car can be cleaned out with compressed air. A compressor can blow off dirt from the deepest surfaces within your car's fabrics. This can be paired with a stiff brush to loosen up some particles stuck deep inside your vehicle's upholstery. You can then vacuum up the dirt.
You can find compressed air in cans that come with their own needle-thin nozzle sticks. The nozzle can be placed in small crevices and then sprayed to administer gentle clean air onto the surface. Keep the air moving around properly as it may contain a bitterant that is irritating but is designed to keep people from abusing the can's contents.
You should be careful when using this procedure with leather seats. A conditioner that uses aloe can be added to it during the cleaning process to keep the surface from being overly agitated.
Be cautious when cleaning off your car so you can keep it looking its best without potentially doing more harm to it than necessary.
