For many people, washing their precious cars offers relief from the stress of the workweek. It is therapeutic, in a way as though you are washing away all problems and look forward to a clean incoming workweek. Car wash products like shampoos and waterless wash are good starting point products to clean your car.
The irony stated may seem melodramatic, but if you are a hard-working car owner, and your car is your means of getting to your job, you will indeed treat your vehicle as a valuable part of your quest to give a good life to your family.
But as with many other things, even simple car washing has to be done well, and there are rules that on must follow in order to do the best job. Here are the top 7 tips that will get that beloved car of yours all shiny and clean- ensuring that you do not in any way damage the beauty of its finish.
Don’t wait for the dirt to be an inch thick. Some car owners wait until people use their fingers to write on their windshields, “wash me please!” before they think of giving their cars a bath. Ugh. A dirty car is much like a person walking around with a grime-filled face! To all the procrastinations out there — remember that when you leave your car caked in mud, you send your vehicle to a premature death by way of rust-ing to death. A car theta¢€™s too dirty may require sanding and possibly repainting and rust repair.
Get rid of the dead bugs on the windshield and the bird droppings on the paint ASAP! As these things used to be organic once not cleaning these up early will result in the fading of the paint/ Tree sap is another thing to get rid of asap. These things are laden with acidic chemicals that react especially when they mix with water. Wash your car at least once a week to make sure none of it remains on the car exterior.
Use products meant for cars only to wash your car with. Don’t use household cleaning products like hand soap, dishwashing soap, or glass cleaners on the car paint. Your paint is not made of the same materials as household appliances, ceramic or wood — so use only the appropriate cleaning products, lest you strip off the cars protective wax. A real carwash product is much milder, and specifically designed for automotive paint. Apply the product also using a soft sponge of lamb’s wool mitt. As for the near-bottom part of your car, the areas near the tires use a wax and tar remover, as this part tends to take the blunt of grease, rubber and road tar much more than the other parts. Lastly, use a different brush or sponge for the tires. Remember that your car is made of metal, while your wheels are made of rubber. You don’t use your toothbrush to comb your hair, or your cotton buds to scrub your teeth with, do you?
Don’t wash your car when the car body is still hot. The temperature of the car hits high right after driving in the sun. If you want a nice and easy car wash, don’t soap your car when it’s hot, or you could find the soap dried up on the paint, thus making the entire process much more of an ordeal rather than a relaxing chore. And unlike the common “Karate Kid” misconception, don’t swirl around your sponge in circles this circling motion may damage the paint. Instead move the sponge horizontally (from side to side).
Rinse your car first with water before soaping it. The rinsing washes away all particles which may damage the paint and glass. After soaping one area, rinse, then move on to the next area. Whatever you do, don’t let the soap dry on the paint surface it’s like marinating a piece of chicken prior to frying. Don’t allow the soap to linger too long until it forms hard-to-wash off soap stains. Also, work the soap into a lather and don’t apply it directly onto the car. The soap is concentrated so it’s hard to spread it out unless it’s lathered and on a sponge. When rising, don’t use a hose with a nozzle. Allow the water to flow over the car naturally.
Don’t let the car air dry! Worse, don’t drive around in your car to dry it off. You will only encourage water marks to remain on the surface of your car thus nullifying all your efforts to clean your car. Hard water, or the minerals that remain after water has evaporated is very difficult to remove.
Use a chamois or a micro fiber drying towel to dry your car. Blot water rather than rub the chamois or towel across the car. Alternative you can lay the micro fibber drying towel on the panel and pull it towards the edge.
A car is not a cheap possession, so be careful when handling it. Treat is as you would a delicate object and it will serve you well for a good many years.
Tim is the Owner of Northern Beaches Car Detailing [http://www.northernbeachescardetailing.com/]