Car Care Tips

A weekly wash routine is essential for protecting the appearance and value of your car. Taking time now to set a cleaning schedule pays off down the line with a finish that lasts longer and looks sharper.
Here are some car care tips on forming a basic wash routine at home. Before you turn that hose on full and start blasting, there are a few things you need to do to make sure your car wash is a success:

* Gather your materials

Get everything ready to go before you start. Having everything you need ready to go cuts down on washing and drying time. The car wash products you’ll need: car-specific wash soap, a wash mitt, a separate mitt or brush for the wheels and several cotton terry or microfiber drying towels. And, no car wash is complete without a trusty bucket for holding your suds.

* Pick the right spot and time

Always aim for doing your car care—especially washing—in low heat conditions out of direct sunlight. Pick a shady spot and wash either in the early morning or late afternoon/early evening. Find the right place and time to wash, and you’re more likely to end up with a satisfying result.

It’s time to liberate your paint from the evil forces of dirt. Follow these steps for the smoothest car wash possible.

* Blast the dirt off first

Use your hose to blast off loose dirt and mud. This will keep your wash mitt cleaner, cut down on work, and prevent larger particles that cause small scratches or swirl marks from being worked into your paint.

* Start washing at the wheels with a separate brush

Wheels and tires are generally the dirtiest part of your vehicle, which is why you need to get this grime off first. Use a separate brush, mitt or sponge for your wheels and tires to keep from mucking-up the one you’ll use on the paint. You don’t want tire grime rubbed all over the rest of your paint. For optimal results, use a special brush or motorized washer to put a mean sheen on your wheels.

* Go to the roof next, then work your way down

The rest of your vehicle should be washed from the top down. Start with the roof, using plenty of soap and water on your wash mitt. Clean in small areas and rinse-off the soap when each area is completed. Quickly go back over each area with water to prevent water spots.

* Thoroughly rinse-off

When completely done washing each area, rinse your vehicle again with cool water. Once again, start with the wheels, move to the roof, then rinse from the top down.

Now start drying your vehicle—but use the right techniques. Believe it or not, drying usually determines just how good your wash job is.

* Dry the right way with proper cloths

Use soft cotton terry towels or microfiber drying towels for absorbing the water. Resist the temptation to wipe—use a blotting technique instead. Wiping can cause swirl marks in your finish, while blotting virtually eliminates the chance of swirl marks. Only use clean towels—dirty ones mar your paint with trapped particles.

Chamois cloths are also popular for drying cars, as they absorb incredible amounts of water without making micro abrasions in the surface. The only drawback to chamois: it’s difficult to clean for the next use.

* Start with the areas most vulnerable to water spots

Dry your roof first, then the hood and grille detail, trunk lid or truck bed next, and finish with the sides. Move up in priority any areas of the vehicle exposed to minor heat or sunlight.

* Other ways to dry

Auto-specific squeegees cut your drying time by as much as two-thirds by wicking excess water away before you use your towels. Driving dry is a popular technique, but it’s prone to water spots and imbedded dirt (in short, it doesn’t work). Air drying is another popular method. But, unless the heat and sunlight conditions are just right, you’ll get spots, lines or sheet marks—even with soft water.

* Hit the hidden places to prevent spotting

Go a little further than just what you can see is wet. Be sure to mop-up inside the door wells, around side-view mirrors and along seams. This will prevent water spots in unsightly places.

Advanced tip: watch for trickles of water draining from your door handles, mirrors and other crevices. They’re the leading cause of streaking and spotting after you think you’re done.