Tips on How to Properly Wash Your Car

Whether you’re looking to save a few extra dollars or don’t trust your car to a car wash, you may choose to wash your car in your own driveway. While home car washing may seem easy enough, there are multiple steps in the process that can make the task seem more daunting than necessary. We are breaking the process into simple steps that will have your home car wash looking as good as it did the day it left the showroom floor.

Things you’ll need: bucket, cloths, sponge, wash mitt, water hose, car wash, pre-cleaner, bug & tar remover, tire shine/cleaner, wheel cleaner/protectant, glass cleaner and paper towels.
Prep Work:
Park your car in a cool shaded area so it is out of the direct sunlight. If your car is too hot, the soap and water can dry too quickly, leaving streaks and water stains behind. Additionally, paint softens up when hot and will scratch more easily than in the shade.
If necessary, you may want to use a pre-cleaner to remove fine scratches, scuffs and swirl marks. First wash the area to be treated and apply a small amount to the affected areas with a clean, soft cloth. Let the liquid dry to a haze, and wipe off with a soft, dry cloth.
To prevent scratching and achieve the highest product possible it may be necessary to use a bug and tar remover. This will allow you to remove bugs, tar, and road grime from your cars finish. Spray the cleaner to the problem areas and wipe off with a clean, soft cloth.
Cleaning:
Tires: If you prefer a wet, shiny look to your tires you may want to use a tire shine and cleaner such as a gel or foam. Apply the product onto a sponge or cloth applicator and apply to the tires using a circular motion. When complete allow the product to penetrate for 3 to 5 minutes and lightly wipe off with a clean, dry cloth.
Wheels: To keep your rims clean and protected against corrosive brake dust and road grime you can use a wheel cleaner and protectant. First clean and dry your rims and allow them to completely dry. Then spray and completely saturate the wheel with the cleaner. Allow the foam to penetrate for 1-3 minutes and then wipe off with a soft cloth or sponge. Next thoroughly rinse the wheel and dry with a soft, clean cloth.
Body: First give your car a good rinse down with cool water in order to remove loose dirt. Next pour the recommended amount of car wash into the bucket and fill the bucket with the recommended water quantity with hot or cold water. Generously apply the soapy water with a sponge, wash mitt, or terry cloth to the body of the car, starting from the top down. When the car has entirely been soaped, rinse off and then dry immediately with a soft, dry cloth or chamois.
Glass: Finally, use a glass cleaner to clean your windows, windshields, mirrors, and side glass. The glass cleaner will remove dirt, and leave your glass streak and residue free. Spray the cleaner onto the glass and wipe dry with a paper towel or lint-free cloth. As an alternative, you can use newspaper to clean the glass to get even better streak-free results.