Admins please move to the correct section for me, thanks lol xxxHow to wash a car correctly
This guide may seem a bit noddy to some of you but how many people use the evil car wash at their local garage or inflict their pride and joy to a hand car wash at the illegal immigrant depot behind the local hardware chain store.
If you do, have a word with your self and hang your heads in shame. The automated car washes are the enemy of car paint , as they are the cause of unsightly swirls, broken aerials and a generally shitty job. The hand car washes may seem value for money but have you seen the kit they use, most of the sponges and brushes have seen more action than the back of Pompys net this season and the guys who work at these are not interested about your car as it’s just a job
Firstly you will need some kit. In the long run its cheaper than weekly car washes. Here’s what I recommend: (The links are for examples not what I use)
A pressure washer (I got mine for £30 at Halfords in a sale)
2 buckets (grit guard is optional)
Some traffic film remover (here’s an example and this will last for ages (
)
Micro fibre sponge or woollen mit (do not use a sponge as they hold grit on the surface)
Wheel acid (
http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Bilbery_Safe_Wheel_Cleaner_2.html)
3 Spray bottles (one for TFR, one for deionised water and one for the wheel acid)
1 Bottle of deionised water
A couple of Chamois or microfibre drying cloths
Old rag
A good car shampoo
Right now you have a shopping list time to get busy
Firstly open all your doors, bonnet, boot and petrol cap. Get one of your new spray bottles filled with some diluted TFR and spray all your door shuts, the inner parts of the door, under the bonnet, slam panel, engine bay if required and inside the petrol cap.
Now use one of your other shiney new spray bottles filled with some wheel acid, and give them wheels a good spray. If the wheels are really dirty like (insert pun here), grab a old tooth brush or similar and give it a quick scrub.
Leave the wheel acid to work and get the pressure washer ready. Now for the fun bit, start spraying the boot shut to remove any dirt as I bet you have never done this. Shut the boot and do the doors, if you have amore than 2 doors, start at the rear and work forwards. Don’t worry if you get water in the car, it will wipe off.
Now give inside the petrol cap a good blast. This is usually a good spot for dirt to accumulate. Once done move to the engine bay. Blast all the shuts, slam panel under the bonnet its self and if required, the engine. Now shut it up and get the TFR again. Cover the car and leave for a min, to allow it to work.
The wheel acid and TFR will now be ready to wash off. The reason it is done this way is to remove as much dirt as possible before you start rubbing the paint with a mit, thus reducing the risk of scrathes.
Get the pressure washer and blast the car, getting in all gaps, inside the arches, around all the wheels.
Fill the 2 buckets with water, one warm with shampoo, the other cold clean water and add the stone guard if you have one, to this bucket.
Soak the mit in the soapy water, wash the car and rinse in the clean cold bucket. This will allow the dirt to drop in this one, keeping the soapy water clean and you mit clean. Repeat
Now time for the pressure washer again. Rinse the car off untill all soap is gone, Get the chamois or drying cloth and dry. If your cloth is dirty have a word, if it gets dirty as you clean, you have to have a word and start again as your car should be clean by now and you have not done it correctly.
Open all the doors again and use an old cloth to wipe all the door shuts down and any overspray. I always run the engine for 5 min after to warm it up to dry it.
Next step tap all the bumpers and trims with your fist gently. This will make any excess water to run out, dry these bits and now you have a clean car.
If you are really anal, get a spray bottle with deionised water, spray the car and dry eith the second chamois or cloth. This will make it a little bit clean as it does not have any lime or chemicals in it like tap water does.
It may seem a bit anal but if you are going to spend the time polishing. Claying waxing etc, why skimp on the wet work, otherwise you will be wasting your time
The main thing is to remove the risk of dragging any bits of dirt over the paint when you clean your car, as that’s another way you get those light scratches. That’s why I recommend the 2 bucket method, wash mits, TFR etc
I hope this guide helps and any questions just ask
