It feels like cleaning your car exterior is more exciting than cleaning the car interior. The exterior, after all, is what everyone sees. If you’re driving a red hot car, you want everyone to know how well you care for it. You can also spend some of your “cleaning” time spraying passersby with a hose, if the weather’s right. Clearly, one of these forms of car maintenance is significantly more fun than the other.
Fun or not, though, cleaning the exterior of a car does have a method to it. If you don’t take the right steps, you may find that your car’s exterior isn’t as clean as you’d like. If you’re preparing to take one of the UK’s road trips in a clean car, take the following steps. You’ll find that doing so leaves you more satisfied in the long run.
1. Start in the shade
Before you get started, make sure you’ve parked your car in the shade. Letting water sit on the exterior of your car in the sun is only going to lead to water spots, and water spots are not easy to get rid of. Likewise, a too-hot car will bake your soap on, leaving your car significantly dirtier than when you started.
2. Soak your car
Once you’ve got your car tucked away somewhere cool, it’s time to get started. The best way to prep for a car washing day is to pre-soak your car. This soak removes the layers of dirt, bug debris, and other immediate eyesores from the exterior of your car. It also preps your car for exposure to soap suds.
3. Choose your soap
You don’t want to use any old soap when cleaning the exterior of your car. Make sure that the soap you use is approved for use on automobiles. You’ll also want to ensure that the soap is mild so that it doesn’t accidentally scrub away any of the car’s paint.
Use an old towel, rag, or designated water mitt to start spreading soap suds around the exterior of your car. You can use tools like the long brushes to reach the roof of your car.
You’ll want to work from the top of your car down so as to not re-spread washed dirt back onto the parts of your car that you’ve already cleaned.
4. Set up cycles of work
You’ll also want to divide the cleaning of your car into parts. Like we said, start from the top and work your way down, but make sure to wash off the different sections as you go. Even if you’re parked in the shade, soap can still bake onto your car if you’re not careful.
5. Clean your supplies
You should frequently wash whatever tools or mitts you’re cleaning off your car with. If you don’t, you may find yourself replacing the dirt you’ve removed with more, soapy dirt. By washing your mitts and brushes, you’ll also prevent yourself from accidentally scratching your paint with any rocks or large debris that these tools may have picked up.
By the way, be sure to swap out mitts as you get lower on your car. Regardless of your driving style, your tyres take the brunt of road damage while you drive. This means that you’ll be more likely to encounter large debris the further down you move on your car.
6. Rinse and repeat
Once you’ve finished soaping the whole of your car (and washing as you’ve cleaned), you’ll want to rinse the whole of your ride over. This final rinse will let you revisit any spots you may have otherwise missed.
When you’re satisfied with the way your car shines in the sunlight, give it a final rinse before putting away the hose. It’s always best, when it comes to cleaning your car’s exterior, to be thorough!
7. Avoid wet spots
With your car thoroughly rinsed, you’ll be able to move on to the drying process. Whatever you do, do not let your car air dry. If you do, you’ll return to the scene of the wash only to find your car covered in water spots. Instead, use a chamois or other water-wicking towel to remove the water from the sides, front, back and bottom of your car.
Don’t worry too much about the top – while professional car washers may be able to reach those heights, you don’t need to.
8. Work on glass last
Once you’re finished with the intensive cleaning, be sure to take a gentle auto glass cleaner to your car’s front, back, and side windows. You’ll want to use a product that doesn’t contain ammonia so as to not impact the tint of your windows. As you work, you’ll be able to remove any remaining soap streaks and ensure that you can see clearly on the road.
9. To wax or not to wax?
Finally, ask yourself: do you or do you not want to wax your car? You can readily apply a high gloss finish to a car at home. Simply choose between carnauba or polymer wax and move from the top of your car down. If you frequently go on long drives, this extra layer of cleanly protection will serve you well. And with that, you’re ready to resume driving with kids and pets or on your own.
It’s a lot more fun to clean the exterior of your car than it is to clean the interior. So get the kids or your friends involved while the weather is still nice. If you do, you’ll be able to enjoy a summer road trip with a car that gleams in the sunlight.