Giving your car a wash yourself is not difficult. If you have some time on your hand, you can wash your car and actually enjoy the process. And save some money! Cleaning your own car will be more efficient and safe as your will clean it delicately, and pay attention to all the tiny crevices of dirt and grit. We have enlisted the process in simple steps that you can follow anytime for quick clean up!
1. Start with the wheels
Wash the wheels and tires first, so that if you splash some dirt from them onto the car, you can wash it off later. Use a wheel brush to scrub the dirt off without scratching the surface of the wheels.
2. Rinse the car
Rinse the car with just water before starting to wash it in order to get rid of loose debris. For the scrubbing and washing, follow top to bottom method instead of front to back, to avoid transferring grit from lower panels to the top.
3. Buckets!
To prevent swirl marks, use 2 buckets. Let one be clean plain water, and the second one contain soapy water. Use a sponge or wash mitt, soak it in soapy water and scrub the car gently. Before dipping it in soapy water again, dip it in the clean water bucket and wring it to remove the dirt trapped in the sponge. Do it often to prevent cross contamination and transfer of dirt back to the car.
4. Time to Dry
Don’t skip drying the car. Drying your vehicle is necessary to prevent the water spots from being left behind. Water spots are caused due to minerals in water, which are inevitable if the car is not wiped out.
Start the process of drying with the windows and mirrors. Microfiber towels work best for this process. Do careful and firm strokes to wipe out water without leaving marks. Start wiping the body then. Once the exterior of the car is dry, move on to the door jambs. Then open the hood and trunk and wipe the jambs. Dry the wheels using a separate towel, and don’t use it on any other parts to avoid cross contamination. Make sure your car is bone dry for the final step.
5. Waxing
Wax prevents the car paint from fading or deteriorating in the sun. It also protects the car from picking up flying grit. For the final step, use wax or a similar polish on your clean and dry car. If not this, you can use a spray wax or spray sealant too.
Some important points that you need to keep in mind before going to wash the car are:
- Wash the car in a shaded area always, away from direct sunlight.
- Always wash the car from the top to the bottom, as the lower panels is the dirtiest, and you don’t want to spread the dirt to the top of the car.
- Wipe windows on both the inside and outside for clearer view.
- Make sure to clean bird droppings and bug remains quickly as these bio-contaminants contain complex proteins and organic acids, that can bond and penetrate the surface and break it down, eating into your clear coat. This can lead to corrosion or discoloration.
- Use sponges or wash mitts to clean the car instead of towels, they’ll do a better job without damage.
When in a hurry, you can always book Car wash at doorstep from Bro4u, for hassle-free service at low cost.
Let us know how helpful this car wash guide is to you in the comment section. And don’t forget to share the tips you follow to maintain your car in it’s flawless state.
