Your car is probably one of your prized possessions, so you want to take good care of it. You schedule it for routine maintenance, clean up your trash, and drive with care; however, you might not be getting the most out of your car wash routine. Even though the interior is crucial, you still have to take care of the paint job. Dive into a few tips for getting the most out of your at-home car wash.
Use Car Wash Soap
The soap you use to clean your car’s exterior is vital to the overall outcome and condition of the paint. Although there are many different types of soap for your household, you should avoid using anything besides car wash soap on your vehicles. Unfortunately, cleaners like dishwasher soap, laundry detergent, and bathroom cleaners are much too harsh for your ride—make sure your soap is suitable for your car.
Pro Tip
Be sure to clean your car from the top down to increase efficiency. Otherwise, you may have to clean areas more than once.
Rinse and Dry Fully
While washing your car is half the battle, you should also make sure to rinse and dry it fully. Many people choose to leave their wet vehicle out in the sun to air dry; however, this is incredibly damaging to your paint job. Believe it or not, leftover soap can leave damaging spots on the exterior, and pooling water may cause rust. After washing your vehicle with soap and water, rinse it with water and dry it with a microfiber cloth.
Clean the Glass Properly
The windows are arguably one of the most difficult things to clean, as they tend to become streaky and greasy during the process. However, you should avoid using household glass cleaners on your car windows. These options cause a streaking effect and can cause unwanted damage to window tint—opt for an automotive glass cleaner instead.
Pro Tip
Wipe the inside horizontally and the outside vertically—this way, you’ll know if the streak is on the inside or outside of the window.
Apply a Wax Coating
Although you should wash your car frequently to remove dust and debris, that doesn’t mean you can’t use other methods to further protect it from the elements. In fact, you should consider applying a protective wax coating after a good wash to ensure water rolls right off and to prevent debris from sticking to your paint. You don’t have to apply wax after every wash, but a good wax is one of the cleaning tools you actually need; that said, applying it every few months is sufficient.
After learning a few tips for getting the most out of your at-home car wash, you’ll have the shiniest car on the block. Vehicle maintenance isn’t always fun, but it’s what it takes to keep your ride in the best possible condition.
