Because spring shouldn’t be the only thing that’s fresh.”
- Car washing liquid
- Two buckets
- Soft natural sponge/wash mitt
- Hose with a nozzle
- Microfibre cloth
- Car wax
- Wheel cleaner
- Wheel cleaner brush
- Glass cleaner
- Vacuum cleaner
Steps
- BEFORE WASHING
Make sure to park your car in a shady covered location ready to wash. Highly suggest waiting till the car is cool to the touch, this will help ensure products aren’t drying on the car or truck prior to rinsing them off.
Set up your equipment. Setup such equipment like your hose and pre-make your wash buckets and have on hand your variety of cleaners and cloths.
2. PRE-RAISE
Hose down the vehicle with water and remove the debris, and animal dropping. This is important as it helps remove any loose dirt and contaminants from the surface of the paint.
3. WASHING
Suggested using a 2-bucket system. The idea is to have the mitt as clean as possible before it touches the shampoo water. This way there is a far less risk of marking your delicate paintwork via scratches and/or swirls.
Start from the top and work your way down, wet your wash mitt/sponge in the bucket with car wash solution and softly wash the roof. Wash one panel at a time and rinse off as you go, always go wash in an up-and-down motion or side to side never use circular motions as this can leave streaks.
Do not scrub harshly as the debris can get stuck in the wash mitt/sponge and starch the paint. After each section is washed, rinse the mitt or sponge in the second bucket to get rid of the remaining debris.
Snow foam cannon is optional to have a layer of foam on the car which makes cleaning a breeze and minimizes the risk of starching the paint off.
4. RINSE
Keep your car wet when washing. Do an overall vehicle raise down to remove any soap that may have been missed.
5. CLEAN TYRES
Clean your wheels last, after washing the rest of the vehicle.
-If your car has hubcaps, remove them and wash them separately with soap and water.
-Cleaning one wheel at a time, first spray on the wheel cleaner.
-Next, clean your wheels using the tools that work best for your car. Soft wheel brushes or 100% cotton cloths work well to wipe the tyre clean. For crevices, use a soft-bristled brush.
-Finally, rinse the wheel thoroughly, then dry it with a soft, clean towel to prevent water spots.
6. DRYING
You should always dry a car after washing it to prevent water spots. Never attempt to air dry the car after washing, instead, use a clean, plush microfiber towel or a dedicated car dryer to ensure there is no water left on the surface.
7. CLEAN THE INTERIOR
When your car needs more than a quick floor mat shakeout or vacuum job, follow this guide.
- Do a quick sweep – Bring a trash bag out to your car and toss any wrappers, empty cups, old receipts, and anything else that belongs in the waste bin.
- Remove and clean floor mats and car seats – Before you even think about vacuuming the carpet, remove the floor mats from the car and shake them out.
- Wipe the windows – Brush away any visible dirt from the inside of the windshield and windows and the tracks below them. Then spray with glass cleaner which has a fine mist so the spray drips less — important when you’re working with automatic windows
- Dust the front panel, dashboard and console – Because it’s the focal point in your car, this is where you’ll first spot dust and dirt. Wipe it down with a microfiber cloth or vacuum away any dirt and grime for a quick fix.
- Clean out cup holders – Don’t sleep on your cupholders. Those hardworking spots can be one of the grimiest — and stickiest — areas in your car’s interior.
- Clean the seats – Whether you have leather or cloth seats, the first step is to vacuum. Use the correct cleaner based on the interior you have.
- Do a full pass on the carpet – Once the rest of the car’s interior is clean, vacuum the base carpet completely using the mini rotating brush attachment if your vacuum has one.
- Wipe down the steering wheel and door handles – Finally, since these high-touch areas can harbor germs and bacteria, spray the steering wheel and all door handles with a disinfectant spray.
8. ENJOY! 🙂
Now the hard part is done, now you can sit and relax to admire the view!
Cleaning your car may seem like a daunting task, but here’s a bit of good news: It’s something you really only have to do about once per month. And if you’re diligent about regular maintenance cleaning, the task will become easier to tackle since you won’t have to do such a deep clean every time.
