Tips for Car Cleaning

The most beautiful and elegant cars may start to look displeasing if not cleaned properly overtime. For this reason, we have compiled the following tips so that you can keep your car clean and shiny.

The following tips will provide you with a stepwise guide so that you can properly clean your car and give it the perfect look it deserves.

Moisten and rinse the car with regular tap water:

A high-pressure hose or hosepipe with a powerful jet is best for serving this purpose as it will remove all the grit that has accumulated on the car’s body. Please be careful not to use a sponge when wetting the car because it acts like sandpaper once grit gets stuck to it. Leave the car wet, allow the water to do the work that is to loosen the dirt and then remove it.

Note: It may be a good option to start with cleaning the interior once you have wet the car.

The Interior: 

Start by picking up all packets, wrappers and other useless trash from your car. Temporarily discard the mats and vacuum them along with the rest of the interior. Clean the dashboard and other plastic with a damp cloth. Try to avoid using silicon-based products as they a slippery residue which can prove lethal if overused on the pedals. Polishing the dashboard is not recommended as it may cause a disturbing glare on sunny days. Wipe the sills, boot or trunk and seams with a moist sponge. Carpets can be cleaned by using products like Car Plan Interior Valet which can easily remove grease stains.

Return to cleaning the exterior body: 

Make sure that the car is still wet, hose one more time to get the car ready for the initial wash. Firstly, we need to remove all grit granules from the entire car. To do this, gently wipe the surface of the car with a soft sponge or wool mitt. Work your way through the surface of the car in circles and make sure to wipe the sills and bumpers last because they are usually the filthiest.

Initial Wash: 

Begin by using a bucket of clean or filtered water and a car wash product. Try to use a car wash product that does not form a lot of lather or bubbles. Stay clear of using shampoos with polish as this would effectively stick down the dirt and stains under a layer of wax which will make the cleaning job a lot more tenuous. Also, it will cause the windows to get hazy every time you use your wipers. Use tar and bug removing stains for the most difficult stains.

Main Wash. 

Use a good quality car shampoo along with a harder cleaning pad or sponge and start cleaning in circles. Use a scrub pad for the most stubborn stains but be careful and use them on areas with hardened paintworks like the sills and lower front bumper. Try to be gentle and careful; nobody wants to see scratches caused by poor cleaning methods.

Now the wheels and tires:

Scrape the tires with a brush first to remove the excess dirt and then further clean it with a sponge or scrub pad. The sponge used for cleaning the wheels should be disposed of after being used since it would be very filthy and using it on the body may lead to scratches. You will need chemical brake dust and alloy wheel cleaner to get rid of the brake dust. Apply the cleaner and leave it for a while before sponging it. Be careful when using these products as they are combinations of some nasty chemicals.

Rinsing Time:

Fetch some clean water and get ready to rinse. Rinsing can be done with the help of a watering can fill with water. For best results use filtered water.

Note: Systematically rinse the car, moving from one portion to another. Start with the roof and then move towards other parts. Use more than one fill of water to avoid any leftover dirt.

Drying the car:

Use chamois leather for drying the car. People hasten with this part but actually, it is this part which requires the most patience. The leather acts more like a wiper than a sponge, it does not absorb water but in fact, it forms a thin layer of water on the surface which dries off naturally with time.

Cleaning the Glass:

Use a suitable glass cleaning product to clean the windows from the inner and outer surfaces. Do this in a circular fashion to get good results. This is also the ideal time to get to removing stone chips.

Note: Do not use house glass cleaner.

Polishing:

Use a cloth to apply the polish, remember to rub it in straight lines, not circles. Spread it evenly with another cloth and finally use another soft cloth to buff up the polish to give the car an amazing and shiny look. Remember not to use and apply excessive polish as most of it goes to waste and the results are also not nearly as good.

Note: You can use an electronic buffer to save time but it is not recommended as car paint is delicate and can get damaged by excess pressure. It is suggested you stick to soft cloths.

The Quick Method: 

1. Wash the car with water and rub it.
2. Add polish to a litre of water and start applying this mixture on the paintwork; be careful and don’t do this to the windows.
3. Pour water with a hosepipe or other means to rinse the car. Take a sponge and rub the car throughout with fresh water.
4. Spray water on the windscreen and turn on your wipers.
5. Take your car for a drive to dry it off.
6. Lastly, buff the damp polish with a chamois leather to give a shiny look to your car.