Keep your car shiny and looking its best
IS your budget too tight to afford the weekly professional car wash and wax?
Check out these tips and keep your ride shiny pretty.
Soft sponge
Car paint is incredibly tough but if you use a brush (like the automatic washers do), you will end up with micromarks so use a soft sponge. One sized a bit bigger than your hand is perfect for getting in corners without losing the power of elbow grease.
Watch your soap
When it comes to cars, more soap isn’t necessarily better. If you use more than the recommended amount, you can end up damaging or stripping the wax or sealant off. So read the label and follow the instructions.
two buckets
Not one after the other, but at the same time. Fill one bucket with soapy water and use the other bucket to rinse your sponge. This way, all the grit from the sponge doesn’t end up messing up your soapy suds.
top down
Let gravity do half the work for you by starting with the roof, and then working your way down the sides. The water running down will remove loose dirt as you work. If your ride is really messy, hose it down first.
Use a spray nozzle to remove dirt – or stick your finger over the hose to get a bit of power behind that wash.
Dry before waxing
Use a microfibre cloth to wipe away water drips, and let it stand for half an hour so you know your car is dry.
Then rub on the wax, and polish it off according to the instructions. If you use a carnauba-based wax, you need only reapply every three to five months, depending on weather conditions.