Not too long ago I believed that cleaning a car involves finding some dish washing fluid then mix it with some water and use it with a dirty sponge with wash the car.
I was wrong, doing that would did more damage to the paint. Without a doubt, the dish cleaning fluid will take out dirt and grime on the automobile, however it removes the wax coating on the car's surface - subjecting it to the tough weather conditions. Furthermore, it dulls the paint if used for a very long time.
Let me give you several techniques I have learned throughout the years that can be utilized to clean your car helping it maintain it's showroom shine and luster.
You should have the right tools for the task
Car Shampoo - This is better than a regular dish washing liquid mainly because it doesn't strip of the wax off your car's paint, it also provides good lubricity that lifts up dirt preventing scratches on the paint. When you frequently clean your automobile, think about buying it by the gallon, you will save much more over time.
Microfiber Wash Mitt - I prefer to use this over heavy sponges because this will absorb dirt instead of pushing it around scratching the paint.
Wheel Brush - You will find a lot of wheel brushes to choose from. Get one that has soft bristles so it won't scratch the wheels. You can also get a longer one to clean the wheel wells.
Wheel Cleaner - Brake dust can be really do some damage to the rims if left on of a long time. Use a wheel cleaner to completely clean the wheels to maintain its condition.
Bug and Tar Remover - If you live within a neighborhood where love bugs prosper you will definitely want this particular product as these insects can do substantial damage on the paint when left on. Bugs once they decompose to produce chemical substance which will break down their own bodies and because of that it is going to leave etching on the paint.
Microfiber Towels - Buy a waffle weaved microfiber cloth which has a deep nap since it is going to pick-up dirt and not push it around resulting in scratches moreover it's going to hold plenty of water reducing drying time. A versatile item you must have in your tool kit.
No Rinse Wash Solution - Should you be residing in cities going through drought, you'll still manage to wash your car utilizing this. This is a solution you mix along with water which you will use to clean your vehicle without needing to rinse.
Grit guard insert - A product you insert at the bottom of the bucket so that you can move the wash mitt over it to remove accumulated dirt to minimize the chance of scratching the paint.
Quick Detailer - It is simply a spray wax you can use soon after every wash to maintain the vehicle's shine.
Proper techniques in cleaning your vehicle
Before starting, be certain the car's surface is nice and cool. To get the best results, make use of two buckets. 1st bucket holds the soapy water while the other bucket holds the clean water.
Start cleaning the wheels first. Spray a generous quantity of wheel cleaner across the wheels, wait for a few moments for it to loosen dirt. With the wheel brush, carefully clean the dirt carefully and after that rinse. Make sure to clean one wheel each time.
Now its time to wash your car. Mix in some car shampoo with water in a bucket then stir thoroughly. Check the intructions on the label of the car shampoo for dillution ratios.
Start from the top and steadily move down so that you don't get dirt on the bottom and move it on the upper portion scratching the paint. Make sure to rinse each section you wash before the soapy water dries.
When you finish washing the car, dry it afterwards as you don't want water marks forming on the paint. Using your microfiber towel, start with the windows mainly because water marks are usually most visible on this part. After wiping down the windows, continue with the roof working going down.
Last but not least dry the wheels - make sure to use a separate towel just for this as you wouldn't like to get dirt from the wheels and move it on the car's body.
Washing without any rinsing?
I never imagined that this could be possible. Nevertheless the detailing companies have formulated a product to achieve this. A no-rinse option you can use of to wash your car without needing to rinse. Perfect if you reside in chilly places, places with water limits, or perhaps if you reside inside a condominium or apartment where car parking is constrained.
You will also utilize a two bucket method here - one bucket for the no-rinse mixture and the additional bucket for water.
Start out with the wheels. Spray a good amount of wheel cleaner on the wheels, allow the cleaner to loosen the dirt and brake dust, after that make use of the wheel brush to remove dirt then wipe using a microfiber towel. Remember clean one wheel at a time.
Right after washing the wheels, its time to clean the car's body.
Dip your wash mitt in the no-rinse mixture after that gently rub the wash mitt on the surface to. Don't forget to clean from the top down, similar to a normal car wash.
Right after you clean a section, dry right away using a microfiber towel before the mixture dries. Dip the mitt inside the bucket of water right after you clean each part so that you can not accumulate dirt on the mitt.
Make sure to wash and dry each portio before moving on to the next.
The Final Detail
Soon after drying the car, spray a bit of quick detailer over the paint after that wipe off using a microfiber towel. This helps conserve the shine and gloss of the paint.
I hope this provides very good information to you about the proper techniques and tools to wash your vehicle.
Thank you.