Things You'll Need:
- Chamois Cloth
- Car Wash Mitt
- Car Wash Brush
- Car Wash Soap
- Garden Hoses
- Rags
- Large Sponge
- Large Bucket
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Step 1
Choose a shady spot, preferably away from trees that are dripping sap or dropping leaves.
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Step 2
Make sure all doors and windows are closed.
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Step 3
Put one capful of car soap into a bucket and fill it 3/4 of the way with warm water. Set the bucket aside.
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Step 4
Hose any excess dirt off the car, beginning at the roof and working down to the tires.
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Step 5
Lather a sponge or terry cloth rag in the bucket of soapy water and sponge the roof of the car. Spray off excess soap when the entire roof has been cleaned.
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Step 6
Repeat for all four sides of the car, washing one full side including windows, fenders and tires and rinsing completely before going to the next side.
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Step 7
Give the car one final rinse with the hose to get rid of any water spots when all four sides have been washed and rinsed.
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Step 8
Take a chamois leather ("shammy" leather) or towel and dry the car thoroughly by setting the towel flat against the surface of the car and dragging it along the surface to pick up any water spots. Start at the roof and work your way down to the tires.
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Step 9
Wash the windows with a rag soaked in plain water and dry them with a dry rag, or use window cleaner and pieces of balled-up newspaper on both the inside and the outside of the windows.
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Step 10
Give any metal or chrome an extra rubdown to get rid of water spots.
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Step 11
Clean the interior if you have time (see "How to Clean a Car's Interior," under Related eHows).
Comments
giarc said
on 6/29/2009 Nevermind about dish soap stripping oil and wax - these can be replaced. What you need to avoid is having your card washed with soap poweder, like clothing detergents. I've just discovered that my car finish is looking dull (and scratched) because our maid has been washing it with Tide every Saturday for the past 18 months!
I thought my college room mate was stupid for not figuring out why his Monte Carlo was rusting while he continued to wash it in clothing detergent... Please put the word out . . . I can't bear to see this happen again.
cedar168 said
on 4/2/2009 WHAT YOU SHOULD TRY IS THE ICE POLISH FROM TURTLEWAX. IT WORKS GREAT!!!! POLISH NOT WAX OR ICE AS THEY SAY SHOULD DO THE SPIT AND POLISH VERY WELL. IT GIVE YOU A NICE SHINE TOO. USE THE CLAY BAR FIRST THEN WASH USING THERE OWN KIND OF CAR WASH THEN POLISH IT TAKES ME 3-4 HOURS BUTS THE SHINE I GET FROM IT IS WELL WORTH IT.
fmulder1013 said
on 3/9/2009 One thing, it's a VERY good idea to have two buckets. I always have one filled with car wash and the other with clean water. I also have two separate mitts: one for the really grimy sections like the section near the bottom and the aluminum wheels. The other is for the upper section. This prevents road grime and other debris from scratching up your paint. I learned the hard way. Using two buckets isn't unusual, I know a lot of people who wash their cars this way. Oh, and don't forget to toss out and refill the rinse bucket when it turns gray! That's dirt/debris from your car!
hotcook said
on 7/1/2007 well when i wash my car 1st i wet it down.then i use 2 buckets of water with car shampoo.but i use this only when im not waxing car.if im waxing i use a road traffic film remover.if i wash in the summer i start at the bottom 1st with my bottom bucet and sponge.then i change 2 second bucet and sponge for the rest of the car,bottom bucet does up about 18 inches and round wheel arches.then i hose off and dry drying all the flat surfaces 1st as they tend to dry qwickest then i do the side in the sun light.in the winter i wash the top 1st as it gives the bottom half of the car a little longer to soak and sofens the dirt a little more.
abigail said
on 4/18/2007 Never use dish soap on your car. (So many people seem to do this.) It strips the good oils and waxes that help protect your paint and keep the car looking shiny and pretty!