21/09/2022
How to wash a car properly in 7 steps
1. Be Prepared
Get your equipment ready before you start (see the list above). Have your buckets and sponges in easy reach to prevent going back and forth. Ideally, wash the car out of direct sunlight to prevent the suds drying off.
2. Wash The Wheels and Tires
Your wheels are the dirtiest parts of your car, so cleaning them first stops mud and dirt getting thrown back onto the car when you rinse. Use a second sponge for the wheels (an old t-shirt can work too). Wash one wheel at a time, rinse it off, then move to the next.
3. Use Two Buckets of Water
Use one bucket of soapy water and one bucket of normal water. Rinse your sponge in the normal water every time you want to get more suds. This cleans your sponge of dirt between wipes, and reduces streaks.
4. Rinse First
Before you start, give the entire car a rinse to get off any loose dirt.
5. Take It From The Top
To wash the car, get your sponge wet and soapy, wash a panel in straight strokes, then rinse the sponge in the soap-free bucket. Wash from top to bottom and rinse the soap off as you go. Start with the roof and windows, top half of the body, then the bottom half of the body. If the suds are drying too fast, break that up into even small chunks.
6. Rinse Again
Even though you’re rinsing each section as you go, finish with another overall rinse, to make sure all the dirt is gone.
7. Dry the car
The best way to dry a car is with a microfibre drying towel, a drying chamois, or an air compressor. For a microfibre drying towel, dab the car dry from top to bottom. For a drying chamois, fold the chamois over and wipe it clean. If you have an air compressor, blow it dry from top to bottom.
If you only have plain towels, here’s how to dry a car without streaks. Get 4 or 5 towels with a fairly tight weave (old t-shirts will also work), starting with one under each hand. Wipe the car with one towel, then wipe across the same spot in the opposite direction with the other towel, Mr Miyagi style. When your lead towel gets too wet, swap it for a dry towel and lead with your second towel until it gets too wet.
