Maintaining your car’s new look and shine depends on how well you clean it – whether you’re at home or on the go. Knowing how to wash your car properly and how to keep it clean can get rid of some problems and will save you time from doing extra work or spending a lot of money in auto detailing shops. In this section, we will discuss how to wash your vehicle properly using a car wash kit, and how you can maintain the elegance and beauty of your car no matter where you are.
Getting the right Car Wash Kit
Choosing the suitable auto detailing supplies that will go with your car wash kit is the first step on how to wash your car properly. Note that a poor quality car wash kit will clean your car but the pampered finish and look you wish may not be achieved. A high quality car wash kit is therefore recommended in order to maintain your car’s shine and appearance. The products included in your car wash kit should be properly selected. The car wash soap, wash mitts and microfiber drying towels are some of the most important and basic car washing tools that need careful choice and selection
Swirl marks and scratches on your car can be caused by low quality shampoos and detergents. These shampoos and soaps can harm your vehicle’s wax protection and can cause premature oxidation. Poor quality shampoo will make your vehicle look dull and more often than not, can lessen your car’s shine and paint.
A few more things to consider are the wash mitts and sponge. You need to check the amount of soap and water your mitt can hold. The more soap it can hold, the more lubricated your soapy water can get. The lubrication produced by the soap prevents the dirt from scratching your car’s paint.
Other tools for a shinier and better looking vehicle are the drying towels and chamois cloths. After washing and cleaning your car, you need to let it dry by using a high quality microfiber cloth and chamois. Leaving your car wet under the sun will leave swirl marks and water spots.
Proper Washing and Drying Techniques
The first thing to remember on how to wash your car properly is to make sure you are not doing it in direct sunlight. Find a shaded spot where you can start cleaning and washing your car. Direct sunlight will cause premature drying and will leave water and soap marks on your car.
Start cleaning the wheels and tires first using a wheel brush and a non-corrosive soap. Wash each wheel and tire and rinse thoroughly. Bathe the vehicle with clean water to remove loose debris. After that, move to the top and start cleaning it downwards. Note that the lower part is the dirtiest part of the car, so make sure that the windows and windshields are already clean before you move to the lower half.
One more technique on how to wash your car properly is by using two buckets of water: one with soapy water and one with clean water. After washing the car with soapy water, make sure to soak the wash mitt in clean water to remove the grits and other particles that may scratch the car’s paint. Continue to wash the car by dipping the water mitt in the soapy water again.
After cleaning and washing the vehicle, rinse it carefully with free flowing clean water. Afterwards, you may start removing excess water by using a squeegee. Start removing excess water in the windows and glass first. After the squeegee, you still need to use a microfiber towel to dry the car completely. Microfiber towels are more absorbent than a chamois, though there are synthetic chamois already available in the market that can absorb faster than towels.
Once the outside is already dry, open the car doors, trunk and hood and wipe the jambs. Make sure that the car is clean inside-out. Vacuum and shampoo the car’s floor carpet and shake off dirt by using a detailing brush.You may also use a spray wax or a spray sealant to bring back the shine of your existing car wax. This will revive and renew your car’s appearance and paint.
If you don’t have time to do this yourself or are not yet confident on how to wash your car properly, schedule an appointment with expert detailers in your area.
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