How to Clean the Outside of Your Car

With a little time and the right clothes (dress to get wet), washing your car can actually be quite relaxing--even meditative.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Window Cleaner
• Car Detergent
• Chamois Cloth Or Towel
• Garden Hose
• Metal Or Chrome Cleaner
• Sponge Or Rags
• Step Stool
• Window Cleaner
• Paper Towels Or Newspaper
• Bucket
• Vinyl Protectant

1. Roll up the windows tightly and shut all the doors.

2. Rinse the car with a hose. Start with the roof and continue down to the tires.

3. Fill a bucket with warm water and car detergent. (Although many people use mild dishwashing liquid to wash their car, it's best to buy automotive car soap designed to protect your paint job.)

4. Wash the car with a sudsy sponge or rag. Start with the roof and work your way down. Wash the windows and tires, too. Use a step stool if you have difficulty reaching the roof of your car.

5. Rinse off all the soap with a hose.

6. Dry the entire car with a clean, dry chamois cloth or towel.

7. Clean the windows with paper towels or newspaper and window cleaner.

8. Apply vinyl protectant with a clean rag to any vinyl parts such as the bumper and trim.

9. Use metal or chrome cleaner on the wheel rims.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash your car in the shade to avoid streaking.
• Old cloth diapers make excellent rags for cleaning and drying.

on 8/8/2006 Although there may be more dirt at the bottom, if you are constantly re soaking the sponge, you leave the dirt in the bucket. Wash from the bottom up so as to leave soap only on the spots you have washed. Doing this helps to ensure that every inch of the vehicle has been washed thoroughly.

on 8/8/2006 Newspaper is great for cleaning glass because it is not textured, like paper towels, and does not have lint like cloth towels. It does not leave streaks or tiny threads behind.
Spray window cleaner directly onto the window, then ball up a sheet of newspaper in your hand. The ball should be the size of a softball or a bit larger. Scrub until the window cleaner has disappeared. As you scrub, the newspaper will become soft and cloth-like. Eventually the paper will begin to fall apart, and it's time to use another piece. Best of all it's free, does a better job, and takes less time.

on 6/30/2006 White vinegar will take those annoying water spots off your windshield, fast. And plain old rubbing alcohol will get sap off the glass.

on 6/30/2006 Always wash your wheels first, as these are the dirtiest parts of the car, and will avoid splashing dirt onto your nice clean paintwork! Use a stiff brush, and for best results use a wheel cleaner, which will be designed to remove break dust. Then get busy with the rest of the car, working from top to bottom to avoid spreading dirt up.

on 6/30/2006 Use two buckets; one with water for rinsing, the other with soap.