The Best Ways to Clean Your Car

February 20, 2012 by Joanna
Filed under: Helpful Tips

Yes, I know most of you know how to clean a car, but what is the best way to clean it? We all know that it is necessary to clean it because any nice looking car will appear rough when it is all dirty. Therefore, I have compiled some tips in this car cleaning process. But bear in mind, do not clean your car under a bright hot sunny day. Reason is because the water stain can be visible when you are done, which leaves you in vain as you need to redo the whole process again. Hence, remember to only start your cleaning process during evening.

The goal of cleaning is to minimize the scratches on the paintwork, therefore it is best to start from the top and work down to the grittiest part. Most of the scratches happened due to careless cleaning as cleaning cloth will pick up grit from any part of the car and add a little scratch to the paint job when it is wiped over.

The first step is to rinse and wet the body frame of the vehicle with normal tap water, and do not use a sponge during this process as it might pick up unnecessary grit. It is recommended to use a high pressure hose; however, a hose with strong jet can also be used. This process is crucial as it loosens and washes away any grit from the car, besides, other dirt like mud or sand will fall off when water gets into it. After so, clean the inside of the car, as it gives time for the water to dissolve any dirt from the exterior of the car.

Image courtesy of worldofstock.com

Any unwanted wrappers and paper should be discarded while you’re cleaning the inside of the car. Also remove and vacuum all mats to eliminate sands and dirt that was stuck there. Using a damp cloth, wipe the dashboard, console and plastic area of the vehicle. While doing it avoid using silicone as it will leave a greasy residue. Finally wipe the sills, boot seams before proceeding to the exterior of the car.

Hose the car one more time before wiping it with a soft fluffy wool cloth to remove all unwanted reside. However, the scrubbing part should not take place at this time. Start on the top in a circular motion until you are through with the whole car.

After so, mix water and pre-wash product in a bucket. Avoid using products that does not foam up or create a lot of bubbles, also don’t choose a product that incorporates built in polish as it will lock the dirt under the polished layer which makes the cleaning process 10 times harder. For stubborn stains, opt for a tar and bug removal spray.

Use a slightly harder sponge with quality car shampoo to scrub off unwanted stains. If stains refuse to come off, opt for a scrub pad but it is limited to the sills and lower front bumper. For the wheels and tyres, brush off the stains with a scrub pad. Avoid using the same cloth that you use for the body to clean the wheel of the car as it will damage the paint job of your car.

Image courtesy of kia-buzz.com

Now its time to rinse your car with clean water. After so, dry it using Chamois leather; damp it with a little water for excellent finishing. Your car should be looking bright and vibrant after all the tedious actions.