Beautiful Car Wash
Attention to
Detail |
|
 The shine and glimmer of a clean automobile can make the oldest vehicle seem like it was just driven off the showroom floor. But in an overzealous effort to maintain that luster over time, some car owners can do more harm than good. Here's some advice on how to keep your next car wash from being a wash out: Made in the shade- Wash your car in the shade, or on a partly cloudy day or at dusk. If soap and water are allowed to dry on the paint (as they are more likely to do in direct sunlight), it can dull your vehicle's finish. Also, rinse the car thoroughly prior to scrubbing, as this will cool the surface You're soaking in it- While that bottle of dishwashing soap and can of household cleaner may be great for solving your other cleaning conundrums, don't use them to wash your car. These solvents are too abrasive and will strip the protective wax coating from the paint, leaving it open to damage. Use products specifically formulated for washing your car. Apply lots of suds, as they act as a wash lubricant. |
The golden touch- A lamb's-wool mitt is coarse,
yet gentle and more effective than a sponge, which can leave debris on the surface.
Although tough dirt and road tar may compel you to take a Brillo pad to your paint job,
apply a bug-and-tar remover, then wipe away the debris with a cotton cloth. Start at the top- Wash your car in sections, soaping, rinsing, and drying each section thoroughly as you go. Start with the roof, then follow with the hood, trunk deck, and sides. Use a high-pressure stream of water on the wheel wells and undercarraige to knock loose any caked-on grime.  Lather, rinse, repeat-
Regularly rinse off heavy dirt as you wash or else you risk scratching the finish. Also,
remember to rinse your sponge or mitt often in a separate bucket of clean water (no soap)
to avoid wiping dirt back on to the finish.A dry spell- As you finish each section, carefully dry it with terry cloth, cloth diapers, or a chamois. |
