Car Wash

There are several ways in which to consider your cars washing needs. Things such as roads you travel on, areas you travel to, your little passengers, being an all day in the car traveller.

Dependant on these things you should then look at what sort of wash your car would require and how regularly it should be done.

You should also take into consideration where you car is parked and if is garaged or not, this will determine whether regular polishing is required.

Following you will find different car washing procedures which can help you decide which would be more appropriate for your pride and joy.

Please also consider the environment when washing your pride and joy. There are hefty fines if you are caught washing your car on driveways and on the street. Try to conserve and utilise water wisely.

The once a week wash

The Basic way to wash your car

1. Prepare a bucket containing warm water and car detergent. Do not use dishwashing detergent, this can be harmful to the paintwork and leave you with scratches.
2. Get a dirt free wash cloth, terry towel or a glove like wash mit
3. Rinse your car thoroughly with water, ensure all loose dirt has been rinsed off
4. General rule of thumb. Start from the top rinse after every section and finish at the bottom. Ensure that all soap has been rinsed off.
5. Get a chamois or an automotive drying sponge and wipe down the car. Again with the rule of thumb in mind, top to bottom.

Washing the wheels

With the washing of your wheels there are several products out there designed to help you wash your wheels and get them looking new. Take this into consideration as these are the instructions you should follow. However, for a general wash follows these instructions,

1. Prepare clean warm water and car detergent or tyre clean
2. Rinse the wheel thoroughly with water
3. Get a sponge or dirt free rag and scrub dirt and grime away. Ensure you rinse your sponge frequently to avoid scratching your wheel.
4. Rinse all soap off, each wheel at a time.
5. After washing and drying your wheels, you can use a tyre protectant. Most protectants can be sprayed on and make your tyres look brand new.

The three times a year wash

This is where your wash becomes a little more intensive and involves, Waxing and attending to the finer details.

1. Start with the basic wash
2. Ensure that if you are going to wax that it is in a cool area and not in direct sunlight
3. Apply the wax in a small area with a sponge or terry towel cloth. Use overlapping or circular motions to apply the wax.
4. Wait for the wax to dry or turn into a haze
5. Use a new terry towel cloth and use circular motions to remove wax. Wipe off each section as you apply the wax.
6. Once finished all sections, wipe over once more, paying extra attention to door jams and window sills.

There are several products out there to help you revitalise your paintwork. Obviously if your paintwork needs revamping then no amount of waxing will restore its gloss and shine. Ask your local auto shop for the best product for your car.

The Interior

With the interior, you should attend to spills as soon as possible. There are different soils that need to be attended to in different ways. For example, chewing gum can be removed by using an ice cube. Freeze the chewing gum and chip it away. You should be able to obtain a manual on cleaning and maintaining your upholstery from your dealer. For general cleaning however, follow these easy steps

1. Clear your car of rubbish and loose items
2. Vacuum the car thoroughly, if you have cloth seats vacuum these too
3. Use lint free cloths to wipe dash and leather or vinyl seats and around hand brake or console area
4. Use cotton swabs for those hard to reach places
5. Use a chamois to clean windows, windscreen and back window
6. Finally, use a finishing product to protect your dash and console
7. As for owners that have leather interiors you can use a leather protectant to wax and soften your leather seats.