Top Tips For Cleaning Your Car!

Top Tips For Cleaning Your Car!

Knowing how to take care of your car inside and out is important, so taking the time to learn the best way to wash your car will save you time, stress and leave your car looking it's best!

What do you need to wash a car

• A hose or pressure washer.
• Specialised car wash soap or wash wax.
• A sponge.
• Cloths.
• Car polish.

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Where to start?

Start with the roof and work down! You don’t want to start with the wheels and then end up washing them again when the water from the top of your car has run down.

One section at a time:

Take one section at a time. This will give each area of the body the TLC it really needs, and then one final hose down at the end should do the trick!

Wash Off:

Do wash off any soap or suds before they settle on the car, especially on a hot day. The soap will dry quickly and getting it off can be difficult once it’s dried on your car.

(There's nothing wrong with grabbing the old faithful of a bucket and sponge to get the job done. However, a hose or pressure washer is a much more efficient way to clean your car. While saving you time, this also stops dirt from being transferred back into your bucket and then back onto your car).

Avoid circle motions:

Do let the contours of your car guide you on which way to wash. Try not to wash in circles and avoid those cobweb-like scratches!

It doesn't have to be a sunny day:

Although it might seem like the most ideal opportunity to wash your car when the sun is shining, make sure it isn’t too hot to touch. If the bodywork is hot, the shampoo can dry out on the car.

Final hose down:

Don’t forget to hose down your car for a final time when you’ve done all, rinsing will remove those last little bits of dirt and dust that gather in those hidden spots.

Wheels last:

Start with an effective rinse with a hose to remove those fresh bits of mud and grime. Then gently sponge down the wheel to remove any stubborn dirt.

Final wax and polish

Once the car is clean, waxing the outside or using car polish will help it look even better. It has the added bonus of protecting the car for longer, meaning fewer washes in the future.

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PRESSURE CLEANER TIPS:

If washing a car with a pressure washer, make sure your car can take it. On some cars, the higher pressure could damage the:

• Paintwork – some nozzles or attachments can increase the chance of a pressure washer affecting the paintwork, as can holding the washer too close to the car.
• Plastics – plastic parts such as bumpers and door mouldings can be damaged if pressure washed at close range.
• Interior of the car – pressure washers can sometime force water past door seals or into expensive electronic units. When it comes to washing around the engine or under the bonnet area, it's best to avoid using a pressure washer.

Do

• Point the nozzle at the ground for the initial burst of water when you turn it on.
• Pressure wash the car on concrete rather than gravel to avoid the possibility of stones hitting the paintwork.
• Close the windows properly and check the interior of your car after spraying for leaks.

Don't

• Spray too close to the paintwork or directly at panel gaps for too long.
• Let the detergent dry. It will cause blemishes, which can be a pain to get rid of.
• Use a strong spray on areas where paint is chipped or on old tyres.
• Use a rotary (or tornado) nozzle attachment.
• Spray the engine bay.

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When giving your car a good wash, we highly recommend Autoglym Products.

Here Are Our Top Picks For The Essential Car Washing Kit From Autoglym