Here’s the Expert’s Approach to Washing a Car at Home

by Preston Tyrebay Auto Repair Garage in Preston

There are two approaches to cleaning a car- taking it to a professional car wash or grabbing a sponge and bucket to do it at home. Whichever method you choose, regular washing of your car is paramount, and not just for aesthetic reasons.

Before anything else, a car is a hefty investment. Notwithstanding the amount that one actually pays while buying the car, hundreds of pounds are spent every year on its maintenance vis-à-vis oil change, fluid refills and various other maintenance procedures. It is, therefore, only natural that you’d want to protect that investment as best as plausible.

If you do decide to do it at home, there are subtle nuances that you must keep in mind while doing it. Here’s a step-by-step guide for washing your car at home.

Choose a proper soap first

The ready availability of dishwasher detergent makes it a tempting option for a car wash. However, it’s not the best solution. A dishwasher is an abrasive soap which accelerates the oxidation process on the car paint. Resultantly, your car will lose its sheen.

The same reason applies to laundry soaps, hand soaps and every other household cleaner. The only viable option is a dedicated car wash detergent.

Other tools that you’ll require for the process are two sponges, a hose and two buckets. That’s it. You are ready to go.

Choose the proper place

Choose a shaded spot for washing your car. Never wash it in the sun. If you do so, the water may dry before you have a chance to wipe it off, leaving the typical water spots on the car body.

Start with the wheels

Wheels are arguably the hardest parts to wash. They are covered with dirt, grime and pollutants. So, they’ll require a thorough scrubbing. It’s a good idea to start with them.

Preferably, you should use a separate sponge for cleaning your wheels and car tyres in Preston. There are also dedicated wheel cleaners available in the market. Those work better on wheels than regular car wash detergent.

Soap-rinse-repeat

Once you’re done with washing your tyres in Preston, change the soap solution and sponge before moving on to the other parts. Preferably, you should start with the roof and make your way down.

But first, rinse the car with clean water to remove any loose dirt. You should also clean bird poop, insect residues and any other stain before applying soap.

Additional areas of concern

Wash in straight lines. Avoid circular motion as it can create swirl marks.
Do not scrub too hard. There’s an inherent risk of scratching in that.
After you are done with the scrubbing, rinse it with a hose without a nozzle. Let the water trickle down gently.
Use two buckets. One for rinsing the dirty sponge and another for applying soap water on it.

You can drive your car to Preston Tyre Bay to gain more knowledge on car maintenance. The technicians are known to provide expert advice and service on all car-related issues.