How to Wash Your Car to Prolong its Paint

Washing a car is easy right? Well, it is until you think about how you have to do it, then it seems like so much work tat you may want to put it off till the next week, or when the weather is better. A proper car wash is real work. To really ensure that you wash your car well enough to get all of the tiny pieces of dirt clinging onto your car's coat off, and dry your car without swirl marks and creating scratches takes planning, but it protects your car's paint and so the overall look of your vehicle over time. This important weekly routine may seem fairly common. You may think you know all there is to know about how to wash a car (soap and water); but keep reading and you may find out some more tips you hadn't thought to consider during a car wash before.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Water hose
• Car wash liquid
• Auto microfiber cloth/sheets/towel
• Car squeegee
• Bucket
• 30-50 minutes
• 2 sponges, or one sponge and one brush

1. Prepare all of the items you will need. Your bucket should be filled with cold to slightly warm water and a few caps of car wash liquid. In the bucket should be 2 sponges or 1 sponge and a brush.
2. Spray your car with water using a hose, starting from the roof of your car all down the body. Rinse each wheel last. This way, all of the loose dirt on the car will move from the top down and then off the car instead of being rubbed into the paint when you apply soapy water causing scratches, or spat upward by spraying the wheels with water first.
3. Next, Apply the soapy water from your bucket of water and car wash liquid to your car in section. Start with the roof, because, as before the dirt will go downward.
4. After applying soap to the roof of your car, rinse the soap off the roof.
5. Repeat these steps (apply soapy liquid to section of car then rinse that section) for the rest of the car, but be sure to follow in a pyramid motion until you reach the bottom of your car.
6. For your tires, grill and bumper, use the brush or second sponge to work out the dirt trapped and often stuck in those areas. Then rinse with hose, as you did with the other sections of the car.
7. Once you have completed all sections of the car, spray the whole car from top to bottom with the water hose again.
8. Now that your car is washed, use the clean auto squeegee to squeeze away any excess water on the Roof of your car, then use it on your front and rear windows. Using the squeegee prevents your car from getting too many water spots, and working in an order to dry with the squeegee helps to ensure that each area of the car is taken care of and doesn't have water thrown on it again.
9. Next, Clean off the squeegee with one side of your microfiber cloth, then use the squeegee on the side windows, then side mirrors.
10. Use the squeegee on the hood, trunk, then side of your car to finish the preliminary dry. Be sure to clean off your squeegee with that same side of the micro fiber cloth as you go along.
11. Now, using the other side of the microfiber cloth, the clean side, dab or pat your car dry your car by following the same order. The order is Roof, front and rear windows, side windows, hood and trunk, sides, grill and bumper, then tires. By patting instead of dragging the cloth, you are preventing the cloth from leaving swirl marks and also from dragging along with it any debris or dirt still left on your car.
12. Finally, clean up. Pour out and rinse your bucket, rinse the sponges and allow them to air dry. Wash the cloths. Store all items in the same location. Be sure they are stored in a dry, clean area.

Tips & Warnings

• It is best to wash your car in the afternoon when there is still sunlight, but it is cooler. If in the hot sun, it may not be healthy for you or your car. Also, try to avoid tree covered areas. Wash your car in an open are for the best end finish.
• The car wash is done best with a hose that has an attachment to direct a concentrated flow of the water so that it shoots out like a jet, rather than pouring out like a facet.
• To keep the squeegee dry, wipe it on the microfiber cloth in between strokes on your car.
• Do not use dishwashing soap on your car. It strips away the protective coating over the paint and so can allow damage to your car over time. Use a car wash specific liquid.
• Keep your cloths, squeegee and sponges off the ground. If left on the ground then used on the car, they may create scratches in the car from little pebbles they picked up.
• Don't press too hard with the squeegee, you don't want to scratch your car, just use long gentle strokes.