Steps to wash your car at home properly, avoiding damaging the paint

When washing a car in the hot sun, the surface of the car can be heated, causing the water to evaporate faster and making the washing process more difficult. Therefore, before washing the car, park the car in a shady area or choose early morning or afternoon when the sun is not too strong. This will help the car not dry too quickly and leave stains. Close all windows to prevent water from entering the car's interior.

If you regularly clean and wash your car at home, you should prepare the appropriate items to achieve efficiency and not affect the details on the car. Cleaning items include: car wash soap, water supply (depending on the size of the car), at least 2 buckets (one bucket for washing, one bucket for draining), a water hose, microfiber towels or bath towels to dry the car. In addition, you should prepare two or three specialized car washing gloves, a large sponge, and you may also need a separate brush to scrub the wheels.

Do not use laundry soap or dishwashing soap because these solutions contain many detergents, high alkalinity... which can easily affect the protective layer of the paint surface, over time will reduce the color of the car's paint. Instead, you should buy specialized soap for washing cars sold at auto parts stores.

Use at least 2 buckets when washing your car, mix soapy water in the first bucket, mix the right ratio of water and soap according to the manufacturer's instructions. The remaining bucket contains clean water to rinse the towel.

Use a water hose to spray away mud and dirt from the body and wheel arches. Do not use a water hose with too much pressure on the car, as this can cause dirt to rub against the paint and cause scratches. Try to spray water from top to bottom on all surfaces of the car to remove dirt.

The wheels are usually the dirtiest part of the car, so they should be washed first to prevent dirt from splashing onto other parts that have already been cleaned. For this part, a special brush should be used to scrub the grooves on the wheels and rims. If the wheels are already clean, you can use a sponge to wash the wheels just like you would wash the body of the car after spraying off dirt.

Use a large cloth or sponge dipped in soapy water to wipe down the body surfaces. Do not use a brush on the body, as this may leave small scratches.

Wash the car from top to bottom so that the soapy water runs down. This way you don't have to wash the same spot twice. If the car is very dirty, let the soap and water do the work. Rinse several times and avoid scrubbing the car with grit, as this can scratch or damage the paint.

After each time using a cleaning cloth or sponge to wipe the surface of the car, dip it in a bucket of water, rinse it before dipping it in a bucket of cleaning solution to continue wiping. This will remove sand particles stuck on the cloth or sponge, helping to prevent scratches on the car after each wipe. Wash the cleaning cloth regularly in a bucket of clean water and replace it with new water when the water becomes cloudy or contains grit or sand.

After cleaning each area of ​​the car body, use a hose to spray it clean. Do not let the soap dry and stain the paint. Always wash the door jambs, the moldings (metal parts around the window frames) and the bottom edges of the doors.

After washing most of the car's surface, use a hose to spray the undercarriage from different angles.

Use a soft, absorbent cloth to dry all washed body surfaces to prevent rust. Make sure no water is left on the vehicle while it dries, as this will dull the paint or cause rust.