Wash a car like an expert Bucket Water Sponge or brush Car shampoo Microfibre towel
What you need
If you fancy earning a bit of extra pocket money or just want to help out a family member or neighbour, why not wash their car? It’s simple to do, will only take you an hour or so and we’ll show you how.
Washing a car can help keep people safe – the driver will be able to see out of all the windows properly and in the mirrors, plus it will keep the lights and number plates visible. Keeping a car clean can also make it last longer.
The first thing you need to do when you’re planning on washing a car is check out the weather. It’s actually best to wash a car when it’s cloudy but dry. If it’s sunny the car could dry before you’ve finished, leaving streaks or water marks behind, and if it rains your car will just get mucky again straight away. So what are you waiting for? Grab your equipment and get washing.
Get prepped
It’s a good idea to wear waterproof or old clothes when you’re washing a car – you will get mucky and wet. First make sure the windows, doors and boot of the car are shut to keep any water from getting in. Before you can start cleaning you need to rinse any grit or dirt off the car. Use a first rinse of water to get the worst of the muck off. Don’t forget to do the tyres and the wheel arches too.
Shampoo time
It is best to use a proper car shampoo – professionals say using washing-up liquid on your vehicle can damage the paintwork. Start at the top of the car and work your way down. This will stop you getting the bits you’ve already washed dirty again. Use gentle sideways motions with the shampoocovered (clean) brush or sponge to wash the car.
Rinse and dry
Using a bucket of clean water, start to rinse off all the shampoo. Make sure you don’t leave any on the car. You can use a hose to rinse off the suds, but be careful not to waste water. Hoses use a lot of water so only use one in short bursts if you really need to. Next it’s time to dry your car. If you leave the car to dry naturally it could get streaky, so experts use a microfibre towel to wipe over the car and dry it.
Finishing touches
If you want to do a really professional job you can make the windows shine by cleaning them with glass cleaner. Then use a hand-held vacuum to clean out the inside of the car, making sure you hoover the seats and the footwells (the place where you put your feet). You can also make the car extra shiny with a special polish or wax. Apply it with a cloth to make your car gleam.