If you like taking charge of your car and doing basic maintenance on it by yourself, you’ve no doubt considered washing it yourself. This is one of the easiest things you could do for your car, but it’s still possible to do it wrong if you’re not careful. You want to avoid making mistakes, as a car is one of the biggest purchases you may make in your life. If you want to perfect your car-washing skills, have a look at two dos and two don’ts to keep in mind for the best outcome.
1. Do Choose the Right Soap
The first thing you need to do in order to wash your car well is to use the right soap. Get a soap that’s specifically formulated for cars that will protect your vehicle’s valuable coat. Regular detergent and dish soap may not be made for dealing with the kind of grime that a car collects. This means that you risk damaging your car and also failing to do a good and thorough cleaning.
If you intend to wash your car at home exclusively, it may be worth getting some of the right equipment apart from the soap. This includes a pressure washer, which uses just two gallons of water per minute when washing a car. This is compared to the 20 gallons of water per minute that are used up when you wash with a garden hose.
2. Do Wash and Rinse Carefully
Make sure that you wash and rinse your vehicle carefully. For the best outcome if you’re using a bucket, get another one for rinsing the washing mitt that you’re using. This may help you avoid scratching your car with dirt that clings to the mitt. You should also have a few mitts or towels at hand to make it easier to avoid an incident if the one you’re using falls to the ground or simply gets too grimy.
3. Don’t Wash Under Direct Sunlight
To get an amazing outcome, it’s a good idea for you to avoid washing your car under direct sunlight. This is because if the sun heats up the car, the soap and water that you’re using will dry before you get the chance to clean it. This is going to result in unsightly spots all over your vehicle. To avoid this, either wash your car while it’s parked under a shade or wash it in the early evening.
Alternatively, keep it wet by drizzling it lightly with water and finally rinse it with an indirect spray. This way, you’ll keep your vehicle’s paint in good shape and you may not have to repaint it if you get involved in a road accident. Note that the average number of car accidents in the United States every year is six million. Be sure to practice safe driving at all times.
4. Don’t Forget Wax or Sealant
Finally, waxing your car after you’ve washed it well may help you to keep it in good shape for a long time. This is especially important if you put things like graphics on your car to market your business or one you’re affiliated with. You can anticipate getting 600 impressions for every single mile driven with vehicle graphics, according to Sievers Creative. This shouldn’t put you at a higher risk of having to repaint your vehicle if you do it on a vehicle that’s been waxed and sealed properly.
Keep these do’s and don’ts in mind so you can wash your car the right way. You’ll be glad you did so when you keep your vehicle looking brand new for a considerable length of its life. You’ll also save on the money you’d have spent on professional cleaning, making this a win-win!
