A Simple Guide to Car Washing

Taking pride in your automobile and washing/waxing regularly is a highly satisfying activity. Therefore, you definitely want to make sure that you're cleaning it correctly. When performed on a routine basis, your car will shine every day throughout the year!

1. First, use a low-pressure hose to get the entire car soaked in water. A garden hose without the nozzle works best. A high-pressure hose will chip the paint and damage the finish over time.

2. Next, fill a 5-10 gallon bucket with a mixture of water and a specified car-cleaner soap. These special soaps will reduce streaking and spotting on the car's body (don't ever use dish soap or laundry detergent; it will strip the car of its luster and harm the car's finish). Follow the directions on the bottle since the mixing instructions may vary.

3. Use a large sponge to scrub the car on all surface areas. Wring the sponge out frequently. It may be necessary to dump the bucket and refill it with the water/soap mix several times, especially if you have a larger-type automobile.

4. Make sure that you clean the wheels off directly and scrub in between the spokes. A large medium-coarse brush is best suited to get the hard-to-reach dirt out from inside the wheel. Severe brake dust and grime can cause a wheel imbalance. There are also sprays and foams that you can apply directly to the wheels after washing and drying to make them appear shiny.

5. Spray the car again with water to get the excess soap off and then use soft terry clothes (or chamois leather towels) to dry it. There are a number of other microfiber towels/clothes that you can use to dry the car. These are all good. The more expensive ones will usually absorb more water, within reason. Never leave the car wet, especially underneath the sun, or else spotting will occur.

6. The windows can be cleaned with Windex or a similar glass cleaner. Use newspaper to wipe them off (the ink helps polish the surface). Mirror glass is too soft to use regular glass cleaner. Clean the mirrors with RainX or a softer chemical. Use a cloth to wipe them down.

7. Use a de-burring brick over the entire car to get out the micro imperfections that road dirt causes. Afterwards, apply the wax in small sections at a time, using circular motions. Wipe the hazy wax off in the same order that it was applied with a soft cloth. Avoid using an electric buffer because it can apply too much pressure to the car and cause swirling. Waxing by hand is by far the best method for getting the optimal shine.

8. After waxing/wiping, use a cheesecloth or old-fashioned diaper to once again go over the entire surface off the car to bring out the extra shine.

That's all there is to it! Just like a well-groomed horse, wash your car regularly or after long trips and it will appear newer for a longer amount of time. Waxing should last for an entire season. If water no longer beads on your car, then it's due time for another coat of wax.