Car Washing Techniques

Car washing techniques vary amongst individual vehicle owners. Car washing is an essential function of preventive maintenance. Keeping the exterior of a vehicle clean prevents rust and oxidation and also reduces the occurrence of fine scratches. This article attempts to relay the most common method and the significance of this pastime.


Equipment

The most common car-washing equipment is:

1. A clean bucket.
2. A sponge or wash mitt made of thick soft foam (not a dishwashing sponge) or a brand new, lint-free dishwashing cloth (one out of the packet).
3. Some car-washing soap. Never use dish detergents; they are far too harsh and will strip any applications of wax. Another reason to not use dish or laundry detergent is that they are harder to rinse off with cold water and may therefore leave soap scum behind.
4. A water hose that is long enough to reach around the vehicle without having to be draped over the trunk or hood.
5. A chamois, which is a super-absorbent cloth that does not leave lint on the vehicle.

Location

After the proper equipment has been gathered the vehicle needs to be in a proper location. A flat, dry, and clean surface such as a driveway or parking lot is prime; a gravel lot that is relatively clean will suffice, though. If neither is accessible, surfaces such as grass or dirt will do; however, mud may splash onto the vehicle when the hose is aimed at the wheels. If the vehicle is washed on grass or dirt then the vehicle should be left until the ground and vehicle are both dry before the vehicle is moved.

Washing the Paintwork

In order to avoid deep scratches, the vehicle must be rinsed thoroughly before a sponge is applied. To do this, always begin at the top of the vehicle and rinse down. If the weather is particularly hot that day, the process will most likely require repeating, even after just a few minutes. Always make sure that the section of the vehicle that is being washed is wet.

Pour a liberal amount of soap into the bucket (making sure it is free of debris first) and then fill it up with water. Follow the manufacturers recommended instructions for which quantities of soap and water to use. Dip the sponge into the water and wait for it to absorb as much soapy water as it can. Squeeze the sponge repeatedly while swirling it around in the water. Squeeze excess water out of the sponge and then apply it to the roof of the vehicle. Always wipe the vehicle's surface in straight motions (to avoid making fine swirl makrs), remember to begin with the roof and work down the sides to the bottom of the vehicle. If the weather is hot, then soap the vehicle in small sections (I.E. a panel at a time), and then rinse immediately. If not, the heat can dry the soap onto the vehicle's paint.

Washing the Wheels

It is highly recommended to use a different set of equipment (sponge, bucket etc) for the wheels. This will reduce the risk of scratching other parts of the paint work, as the wheels are usually the dirtiest part of a vehicle.

There are two common ways to clean the wheels of a vehicle.
The first way is to clean them with soap and a wheel brush. The choice of brush rests largely on the design of the hubcaps or rims.

First, ensure that the wheels have been rinsed with water. Next, scrub them with the wheel brush being careful not scratch the hubcaps' paint. Note: hubcaps with grooves in them can contain a lot of brake dust, as can alloy wheels. These problem areas can require extra time and scrubbing.

The second way is spray on, rinse off chemicals; directions for these should be found on the bottle.

Rinsing and drying the vehicle

An important step is rinsing all of the soap off of the vehicle. Begin at the top and spray downwards to avoid splashing soap back up to the top of the vehicle.

Afterwards, dry the vehicle with the chamois in small circular strokes. An alternative to a chamois is a pure cotton terry cloth towel. As much as possible, dry the vehicle thorougly including the nooks and crannies (door jambs, under the hood, trunk lid, etc) to prevent water spots and premature corrosion. It is not recommend to allow the vehicle to dry naturally as minerals in the water will be left behind as the water itself evaporates.

Good infrmation for car owners. The best thing you can do for your cars paint is keep it waxed. But, you should not wash your car within 30 days after your paint work is completed. You can only wash wiyh cool water and wipe it down with a soft cloth so that no water marks are there. After 30 days you should wash your car with car washing soap and after 60 days you should buy a good graded wax to get it waxed.

Some car wash are using soft water, one which have little or no mineral content. I don't know if this have some benefits.

Great information on the whole..Sigh but hummer seems to be more high maintenance than other vehicles. Well, I guess that's the price ppl have to pay..