Step-by-Step Guide to Giving Your Car the Perfect Wash

While the idea of summer nearing is incredibly exciting, it also means that it’s time to wash our cars thoroughly so they sparkle in the sun. This guide will show you the steps to take to get a supremely clean vehicle.

 

What you need

• Your car (obviously)
• Bucket of warm soapy water
• Hose
• Jet wash (optional)
• Drying cloth
• Wax
• Sponge/scrubber

Wash

Warm water and soap will get most of the dirt off the exterior of your car. For the tougher dirt, you may need to use a jet wash and foam to clean it. Be careful not to jet wash the car too closely, as the power of the stream and the scratching of the dirt may leave marks or damage the paint.

Scrub

If you’re not using a jet wash, you’re going to need to put a little elbow grease into scrubbing the dirt off your car. Be mindful of how harshly you scrub; if you accidentally go over a scratch, it could make it worse by scraping off more paint.

Rinse

You can rinse your car with hose water or throw buckets of water onto the car (start from the top). Of course, throwing a bucket of water on a car is fun, but a hose gives you more control when clearing off the grime and soap.

Dry

Although drying your car is a hassle and it’d be easier to let it dry in the sun, drying it yourself will prevent any irritating watermarks or spots from forming. As is the case with scrubbing, be sure all of the dirt is off the paint, as you could potentially scratch the exterior while drying.

Wax

Before you buy a car wax, it’s a good idea to read through a guide on the best wax for your car. Be sure to read the instructions and, if you’ve never used a certain type of wax on your car, test it on a small patch of your car that’s out of sight.

Do you have any tips for achieving a pristine clean? Let us know what types of products you use and your process for getting your ride to shine.

This is a collaborative article.