Do It Yourself SUPER Easy Car Wash
Overview
With the sheer number of car wash products available, it’s easy to think “there’s no such thing as an easy car wash, maybe I should just search for a car wash near me”
Well, we’re here to prove that idea wrong with a simple car wash and cleaning guide that will have your car sparkling in an hour or less. But first…
Car wash vs detailing, what’s the difference?
When someone says car wash, they’re usually talking about simply cleaning the exterior of the car using basic products such as one or two buckets, a sponge or wash mitt, car wash, water, and something to dry it with. That’s what we’ll be covering in this article.
The word ‘detailing’ covers more than just a wash, including but not limited to:
Car wash vs wash and wax
When choosing your car wash, you’ll often come across products simply labelled ‘car wash’ right next to some labelled as ‘wash and wax’. Car wash will generally be cheaper than wash and wax, and is a great choice if you prefer to apply wax AFTER a wash.
Wash and wax contains wax to add a little extra shine, protection, and water repellency to your paintwork, though not to the same effect as a stand alone waxing process.
Materials
How To Do An Easy Car Wash
The time of day and area you wash your car should be considered before you begin. You need to park up where the run off won’t enter the street or any drains, the lawn is usually ideal.
If you don’t have any shade at the time, wait until late afternoon or a cloudy day. Washing your car in full sun won’t give you the best result possible.
Steps
How to clean your car wheels
Ensure that your wheels are cool to the touch, then spray each of them with the wheel cleaner. Allow 3-5 minutes for this to dwell, but don’t allow the wheel cleaner to dry. Give each wheel a light scrub with the wheel brush and if necessary, you can apply a little more wheel cleaner as you go.
Rinse your wheels clean, and let's move onto…
How to perform a car wash
Add car wash to your bucket following the instructions on your car wash. Fill the bucket with fresh water, submerging the end of the hose INTO the water to avoid winding up with a bucket of bubbles.
Always rinse your car first, from top to bottom and pay close attention to particularly filthy areas.
Now wash your car from the roof down using a back and forth motion rather than circles, as circles can cause permanent swirl marks in your paint. To prevent staining, rinse each panel as you go and try not to let suds dry on your car.
How to prevent water spotting by drying your car
Water spotting occurs when water is left to evaporate on your car, leaving behind mineral deposits. Drying your car with a chamois or drying towel will remove all of this for a spot free shine.
Again work from top to bottom, wringing the chamois or drying towel out as you go. The drying towel holds an advantage in speed over the chamois, but the chamois is easier to wring out when required.
If you drop the drying towel, don’t be tempted to continue using it. Throw it straight in the washing machine. If you drop a chamois, you can use it again after rinsing it thoroughly.
Shine and protect your tyres
Tyre shine can be applied directly to the tyres as a spray, or applied to a brush or microfibre towel then wiped onto the tyre. Be careful to apply tyre shine ONLY to the sidewall area of each tyre, and never the tread.
The result is tyres that not only look brand new; but are protected against the oxidation damage which occurs as the sidewalls are exposed to the sun and other environmental contaminants.
How to clean car interior
First of all, remove anything that doesn’t belong in your car so you can see just how much cleaning must be done. The vacuum is a good next move. Pay close attention to footwell areas, the cracks in and beside the seats, and the area around the cup holders.
Now break out your interior protectant wipes and read the packaging so you know where NOT to use them. Generally pedals, the steering wheel, windows, gear shifters, and clear plastics are off limits.
Give every other hard or soft plastic surface a wipe down, even if it all looks clean because as the name suggests - this product not only cleans but also protects your interior.
Once this is done, you’re done! Great work!
Tips
Can Car Wash Damage Paint?
Car wash cannot damage paint, unless you chose a soap that isn’t designed as car wash (kitchen soap should never be used). The only way your paint can be damaged during a car wash is if the wash mitt or sponge is contaminated, which will cause swirl marks and light scratches.
Which car wash is best?
Even the cheapest car wash is better than using any old soap. However if you spend a bit more money on the best car wash, you usually get a better foaming action, gloss enhancers, higher concentration (meaning less product required per wash) and even wax additives to maintain shine and protection.
Why car wash is important
Car wash is important because it is PH balanced. Not too acidic and not too alkaline, which means it won’t damage your paint. The act of washing your car is important, because dirt, road grime, bird droppings, tree sap, and tar are NOT PH neutral and will leave permanent marks and damage on your paint if they are not cleaned off regularly.
Will car wash damage ceramic coating?
Car wash will not damage ceramic coating but to be certain, it’s a good idea to purchase a car wash which clearly states to be ceramic coating safe. Never use something like a truck wash or degreaser type product as these will almost certainly damage ceramic coatings.
Can car wash remove scratches?
Car wash cannot remove scratches, however it may lessen their appearance by removing dirt and grime embedded in the scratches. This effect will not last however. To remove scratches, see our guide how to remove scratches and swirl marks.
Give yourself a pat on the back, you’ve just completed a basic yet VERY effective car wash! If you want to take your shine to the next level, see the sequel to this article how to deep clean your car.
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