Learn How to Wash Your Vehicle Properly

You love the look of your vehicle when it’s clean inside and out. It gets really annoying when you accidentally brush up against a dusty car and get your clothing dirty. So let’s take a look into the world of car washing and see what can be done to ensure it’s done properly and not causing damage to the vehicle’s finish.

Damage can be caused to the vehicle’s finish by many things. Below is a list of culprits.

Soap
Material used to wash
Material used to dry

Many people use dish soap to wash their vehicles. Dish soap might be fine for your dishes and your hands, but when it comes to the vehicle finish it can actually cause more harm than good. If you don’t want to use a special automotive care soap, baby shampoo is recommended as an alternative. Baby shampoo contains conditioners that actually help with the trim and rubber found all over a vehicle.

Your sponge or cloth used to wash with is also very important. A cloth that is rough can cause damage to the clear coat which leads to further problems down the road. In addition, if your sponge happens to pick up too much dirt it can drag it across other areas causing scratches. It’s important to rinse the cloth or sponge often when washing and make sure you’re using a soft material.

Drying your vehicle presents a new set of challenges. First you want a cloth that absorbs the water quickly but doesn’t damage the surface. Micro fiber cloths are now highly recommended for the drying process as they absorb the water and are super soft, providing a paint friendly surface to dry with.

In addition to the products you use, there is a right way and a wrong way to wash your vehicle. First, start at the top not the bottom. That much is pretty much a given. This not only ensures that the dirt and grime is removed from the top down to the bottom but it ensures that road dirt and grime is not moved from the bottom portions up to the top.