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Want to get your car as clean and shiny as the day you bought it? Tired of spending your hard earned cash as the car wash each week? If so, follow this guide to learn how to wash your own car like a pro.
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Car Wash Tips
- Wash the car in a cool, shady spot.
- Use car wash specialty soap and not household cleaners like dishwashing soap.
- Rinse the car first to remove any loose dirt.
- Start at the top of the car and work your way down.
- Use a chamois or microfiber towel to blot the water from the surface without scratching.
- Wax the car immediately after washing if you want to protect the finish.
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Introduction
- If people have started writing "wash me" in the dust on your car window, it's time to wash the vehicle. Learn the proper methods to not only scrub and shine the car, but also complete the cleaning and detailing with a lot less effort. Experts recommend washing your car at least once a month to help prevent corrosion.Samarins: Car Body Care Tips Here's how.
Gather Car Washing Tools
- Consider the following tools and materials that will give your car a professional finish with minimal effort.
- Get a soap specifically for car washing.Autopia: Washing and Drying Your Car
- -Avoid using soaps designed for use in the kitchen or bath like dish soap since they can harm the car's finish.About.com: How to Wash Your Car like the Pros
- Use a bucket to mix the soap with cold water, not hot.Quick and Simple: Wash Your Car Like a Pro
- Get a wash mitt that you can wear like a glove, that will hold the soapy water and help you get into tight spots around your car.Autopia: Washing and Drying Your Car
- Consider a spray cleaner or protectant specifically designed clean the type of wheels and wheel covers your car has.MSN: Wash Your Car like a Pro
- Gather a few drying tools like a sheepskin chamois, paint-safe squeegees or microfiber towels to dry without scratching.Autopia: Washing and Drying Your Car
- Buy a car wax that's safe for clear coat finishes if you plan to wash your car once it's clean.Castrol: How to Wax a Car
- Monkey See: How to Wash a Car (Time: 1:07)
Wash and Rinse the Car
- Choose a shady spot to wash your car instead of in direct sunlight.Quick and Simple: Wash Your Car Like a Pro
- Remove any items you may be wearing like belts, rings or other accessories that can scratch the car as you wash it.Quick and Simple: Wash Your Car Like a Pro
- Rinse the car first with water from the top down to wash off any loose dirt.About.com: How to Wash Your Car like the Pros
- Wash the car from the top down to reduce the risk of scratching the paint with a dirty mitt.MSN: Wash Your Car like a Pro
- Work in sections, rewetting the section if it has dried.Auto Education: Washing Your Car
- -Submerge the mitt in the soapy water often to remove dirt that can scratch your car.About.com: How to Wash a Car
- -Change the soapy water in the bucket two or three times during the wash.Quick and Simple: Wash Your Car Like a Pro
- Wash the spots where dirt can build up, like inside the wheel wells and under bumpers.Samarins: Car Body Care Tips
- Go over the entire car with a soapy mitt one more time to prevent water spots.About.com: How to Wash Your Car like the Pros
- Wash the tires and apply protectant, if desired.MSN: Wash Your Car like a Pro
- Rinse the soap from the car with a hose.About.com: How to Wash a Car
- Monkey See: Washing Your Car (Time: 1:19)
- Monkey See: Car Washing-Rinsing Your Car (Time: 1:21)
Dry the Car
- Dry the car as soon as possible after washing.Auto Education: Washing Your Car
- Ensure the towel is clean to prevent scratching.MSN: Wash Your Car like a Pro
- Dry the top first and then move to the hood, trunk and sides.Auto Education: Washing Your Car
- Lay the chamois or towel atop the car to soak and blot water from the surface without scratching the car.Auto Education: Washing Your Car
- Use a microfiber towel to dry areas like inside the trunk, hood and doors where water can accumulate and later drip onto the other surfaces.About.com: How to Wash Your Car like the Pros
- Monkey See: Car Washing-How to Dry Your Car (Time: 2:19)
Wax the Car
- Help preserve the finish of your clean car and protect it from the sun and other environmental effects by waxing it with these basic steps.
- Wash the car right before waxing and ensure the car is still in cool, shady spot.MSN: Wash Your Car like a Pro
- Apply wax to a sponge to spread on a small section of the car.Samarins: How to Wax a Car
- Cover the car with a thin layer of wax using circular motions.Castrol: How to Wax a Car
- -Avoid getting wax on surfaces like black window trim and seals or matte plastic that will be stained white with the wax.Samarins: How to Wax a Car
- -If you do get any wax on these surfaces, remove it with spray window cleaner.Samarins: How to Wax a Car
- Let the wax dry for a couple of minutes or until it has a cloudy look.About.com: How to Wash a Car
- Use a clean and dry towel to buff the wax off the car, turning the towel often so you're working with a clean section each time.Samarins: How to Wax a Car
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