There is nothing better than a professionally cleaned car. Whether it's as part of your car maintenance or preparing your car for sale, washing your car can also be easy to do at home!
Provided you use the right technique and tools, washing your car regularly will ultimately protect your vehicle and keep it looking its best. It can also help prevent minor wear and tear from becoming noticeable, thus maintaining your car's value and keeping it looking better for longer.
 |
| 7 Helpful tips for washing your car at home |
Here are some of our most useful tips on how to wash your car at home.
Tip 1: Cleaning tools needed
It's important to assess the condition of your car before you wash it. This will help you determine the types of cleaning products you will need while washing your car.
Ideally, your cleaning tools/supplies should include:
- A hose with a variable nozzle
- A soft sponge and/or car wash glove
- Car wash fluid
- Several microfibre cloths
- Large microfiber towels for drying.
- Three buckets - one for clean water, one for dirty water and one with cleaning solution and water especially for your wheels.
You may also need :
- An indoor hoover
- Rubber gloves
- Wheel cleaner
- Paper towels
- Window cleaner
Before applying anything to your car, make sure you read what is in the product you plan to use. Not all car cleaning products are versatile and can damage paint, upholstery or other finishes.
An older car may need a cleaning regime with clays, waxes and varnishes to protect the paint, while a newer car may have a tough clear coat that is still intact.
Car cleaning products are specifically designed to prevent any dislodged dirt and grime from scratching your car's paintwork; as well as being gentle enough not to strip your car's existing paint layer.
Tip #2: Where to wash your car
While it may be tempting to wash your car on a hot, sunny day, this is actually a very common mistake.
It is widely accepted among professional retailers that you should not wash your car in the sun. Water, soap and cleaning products dry very quickly in the sun, resulting in stains and swirl marks on your paint and windows.
Instead, you should try washing your car on a slightly overcast day, on a cool surface with a spray bottle handy. You can also park your car in a flat area so that you have enough space to open your doors fully.
Tip 3: Clean the wheels
 |
| homemade car wash soap |
First of all, you should wash the dirtiest part of your car, which is usually the wheels.
Wash your tyres separately with a fresh bucket of water to avoid spreading dirt and grime over your car's paintwork.
Invest in a tyre brush, microfibre cloth, separate sponge and a tyre-specific cleaning solution before cleaning your wheels.
Water-based, non-corrosive wheel cleaners are recommended for all types of car wheels and are ultimately the safest choice in tyre cleaning products.
You can then coat your wheels with the cleaning product(s) of your choice. Let the solution sit, then scrub the dirt off your tyres with a tyre brush.
Finally, spray your wheels with clean, cold water to remove all the wheel cleaner. When you are finished cleaning the wheels, be sure to dry them with a clean microfiber cloth.
Read also: Best Car Batteries of 2022
Tip #4: Wash the headlights
You shouldn't forget to wash your headlights too. Dirty, sun-damaged plastic headlights can turn yellow over time, making them less effective on the road and ruining the overall appearance of an otherwise clean car.
To clean your headlights, you can wipe them down with a cleaning solution and wipe them clean with a damp cloth when you're done.
Tip #5: Clean the exterior
Washing your car's body will help remove dust, dirt or mud. It will also help prevent further scratches to your car's paintwork.
Wash each section of the car (moving up and down) to remove large pieces of dirt. Don't forget to use the soapy water from your clean bucket to wash the car's bodywork!
When rinsing off the soapy water, it is best to use a hose without a nozzle. At low pressure, this type of hose will allow the water to flow smoothly from the top of the car to the bottom (this is called the tarp method).
Now dry your car with a large microfiber towel or chamois before moving on to the next step. Keep in mind that your car must be completely dry before applying waxes or a protective coating.
Tip #6: Clean windows and glass
Cleaning your car's windows and glass will not only ensure a shiny exterior, but also allow you to drive safely without having to squint through the glass.
It is important to note that standard and tinted glass need to be cleaned in different ways. You want to use a window cleaner designed for car windows instead of products like Windex that can be harsh on the finish of a car's exterior windows.
When cleaning your windows, it is best to spray the cleaner directly onto the surface and wipe it off with a microfiber cloth to prevent the spray from dripping. You can then repeat this process for the interior of your car as well.
It is best to avoid parking in the sun while cleaning your windscreens and windows so that the cleaner does not evaporate and leave an unpleasant residue or smudge.
Tip #7: Clean the interior
We all know how hard it is to keep the interior of a car clean, and with children or pets, cleaning the interior of your car can sometimes be forgotten.
Here are some steps you can take to clean the interior of your car:
- Remove all the rubbish from the car (including the floor, under the carpets and on the seats).
- Take your floor mats out of the car and shake out any dirt or dust. You can scrub them with soap and warm water and let them air dry completely before reinstalling them.
- Vacuum the front and rear seats, floor, under the pedals and side door panels.
- Wipe away dirt, dust and grime with a microfibre cloth or cleaning wipes. You can spray a small amount of car-specific cleaner on the console, steering wheel and between the car seats.
- Clean cup holders with cleaning wipes or a cotton swab soaked in cleaning solution.
- Clean stains on seats and carpets with a specialised cleaning solution, then wipe with a damp cloth.
- You can use a paint stirrer wrapped around the end of a microfiber cloth to get into hard-to-reach areas between seats and around the center console.
And if you're a pet owner, I'm sure you're always looking for easy ways to remove dog hair from your car. If vacuuming doesn't get rid of all the pet hair, lint rollers, velcro rollers or a wire brush should do the trick!
Read also: How to Buy Right-Hand-Drive Cars in the USA
After the wash
Now that your car is washed and clean, the next step is to add shine and protection.
Some of your next steps may include:
- Prepare the surface - use a clay bar to remove suborned stains and any previously applied wax.
- Repairing scratches - fill in scratches and lighter scratches with a coat of smooth wax or use a scratch-specific repair product for deeper scratches.
- Polish for shine - This step is optional and is a great option for anyone who wants a high-gloss shine that can make your car's paintwork look like a mirror.
- Wax to protect - Wax adds a protective coating that blocks UV rays and protects the vehicle's paint from any corrosive elements.
- However, if you're not looking to maintain that shine and protection at home, check out Car Wash Finder, a tool proudly presented by Budget Direct to help you find and review your next local car wash.