Do From The Onset Make Cleaning A Priority
The carwash bay is an extension of other customer touch points and should be clean and tidy. The carwash is a great profit center with high margins. Its important to make sure your carwash is clean and convenient for customers. Inside the wash bay can create a dirty environment with unsightly grime and algae. Without regular cleaning, it doesnt take long for that muck to build up. This can lead to mechanical breakdowns, costly downtime, an unsafe environment and unhappy customers. Loyalty is difficult to maintain in a dirty environment. Do create and follow daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly checklists. A regular cleaning will pay off.
The Devils In The Detail
Moving beyond the basic clean outlined above is commonly referred to as detailing your car. This can include the application of protectants and waxes, tyre shine, and an under bonnet scrub. Well cover these steps in more, err, detail later on.
But for now the results of a proper wash should impress even the fussiest driver. Remember to secure your floor mats back in place and return your personal items before packing the hose away.
Car cleaning time is also a great opportunity to check your cars vital fluids and tyre pressures and dont forget to have a look at your engine, wheels and tyres for anything out of the ordinary you may wish to report to your mechanic.
Helpful Tips: Washing Wheels And Tires
- Clean each tire one at a time. Wash, rinse, dry, and move on to the next one. This process will prevent clean tires from air-drying before you have time to get back around to them. Designate one towel for drying your wheels and tires and another for the body of the car.
- Use the proper cleaners for the job. Use a cleaner designed specifically for the type of wheels that you have. There are cleaners on the market that work for both wheels and tires to remove brake dust, dirt, and grime. If there are a lot of impurities built up on the surface, consider using a stronger cleaner.
- Get the right scrubbing brushes. For the wheels, use a brush with feathered bristles that will not scratch the surface. You may also want to look for a long, slender brush for the inner areas of the wheels, such as behind the spokes. Since the tires are made of rubber, use a stiff brush.
- Polish your wheels. Waxing your wheels helps create a barrier against dust, dirt, grime, and other elements. Upkeep will be much easier. The next time that your wheels need cleaning, a quick rinse may suffice.
Now that your tires and wheels are clean, lets take a look at the proper technique and materials needed to wash the body of your car.
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Wash The Entire Car Using A Wash Mitt
Now that the car is wet and the majority of the dirt and debris is removed, the bulk of the car washing can begin. Using a microfiber car wash mitt and sudsy water from your soap and water bucket, wash the car from top to bottom. Wash the car using a side-to-side motion. Do NOT wash in a circular motion. Using a circular motion can result in swirl marks if your mitt picked any abrasive dirt or debris.
After each section of the car , make sure to put the mitt in the rinse bucket with the dirt-trap. Submerge the mitt in the water, and use your hand to move it around on the dirt trap to get all of the dirt off of the mitt. Then, take the mitt out of the rinse bucket and squeeze all the water out before submerging in the soapy water. Rinse each car panel using the hose as you go to keep the car wet throughout the process.
Continue repeating the side-to-side motion on each panel and rinsing the mitt between panels from the top of your car to the bottom of your car until it is completely clean. Make sure to clean all your car windows with the sudsy water and mitt as well. This will prep the windows to later be cleaned with glass cleaner.
Weve compiled a list of the Best Car Wash Soaps that also answers important questions about soap and even contains arecipe for homemade car wash soap! Find the best car wash mitt for your needs from our Best Car Wash Brush List.
Get Help With Washing Your Car From A Mechanic On Justanswer
The Drive recognizes that while our How-To guides are detailed and easily followed, a rusty bolt, an engine component not in the correct position, or oil leaking everywhere can derail a project. Thats why weve partnered with JustAnswer, which connects you to certified mechanics around the globe, to get you through even the toughest jobs. So if you have a question or are stuck, and talk to a mechanic near you.
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Where Can I Find The Best Car Wash Near Me
Use the Way.com app or website to find the best and most affordable car washes near you. Get on the Way website or app and type in your location. Now, choose a car wash near you that best suits your needs and budget. Finally, enter the vehicle details and pay to book. Once you reach the spot, just scan using the app and get your car cleaned. You no longer have to roll your windows down or search for coins and cards.
Not Cleaning Your Car Will Cost You
You may already perform an entire wash and wax service on your car, but are you using the correct car care products? Furthermore, are you using the proper washing technique to avoid swirl marks and scratches? Not only does this article include instructions on how to clean the body of your vehicle, it also contains tips on how to get your wheels, grill, and headlights spotless.
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How Do I Wash My Car At Home In Winter
Try and wash your car on days when its over 40 degree F. That way, its unlikely that water will freeze on the car, making door locks and windows inoperable.
Richard Reina, product training director at CARiD.com, suggests lowering all car windows slightly after washing so you can wipe water from the edges of the glass so the windows wont freeze shut. If you have a long spell of sub-freezing temperatures forecast, however, its good to start your car and drive it around for a while and warm up everything before spraying down the car. Also, wash during daylight hours so the sun can help dry the surfaces.
Be sure to use plenty of clean water and spray off the loose dirt and salt, concentrating on the undercarriage of the car. This way you can get rid of the majority of the salt before trying to wipe it off. If youre comfortable jacking up your car to reach the undercarriage better, go ahead, but be sure to do so safely and always use jackstands.
Choose a high-quality car wash detergent.Never use dish soap, because it can shorten the life of your paint. Use the two-bucket method of washing one bucket for soapy water, and one for rinse water. After each swipe of a dirty car, rinse your filthy sponge or microfiber wash mitt in the rinse water to get all the grit and salt off before dunking it in the soapy water.
Tip #: Cleaning The Windows And Glass
Cleaning glass and the windows in your car will not only ensure a shiny exterior but also allow you to drive safely without having to squint through the glass.
Its important to note that standard glass and tinted glass need to be cleaned in different ways. You want to use window cleaner thats made for car windows instead of products like Windex which can be harsh on a cars exterior window finish.
When youre cleaning your windows its best to spray the cleaning product straight onto the surface and wipe with a microfibre cloth to avoid the spray dripping. You can then repeat this process for the inside of your car too.
Its best to avoid parking in the sun while cleaning your windscreens and windows so that the cleaning product doesnt evaporate and leave an unpleasant residue or smudge.
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Do Establish A Process To Keep Things Running Smoothly
Do follow a cleaning checklist that will save time and hassle. Mark VII has detailed lists, below are a few highlights.
Daily
- At each shift change, observe wash operation by viewing a wash to ensure proper application of chemicals and equipment functions. View vehicle from exit end to ensure clean, dry and shiny results.
- Conduct a walk-through to inspect the carwash area. Identify and rectify dirt build up, debris, leaks, dated or tattered menus and equipment operational issues.
- Verify chemical levels are adequate.
Weekly
How To Clean Your Car
This article was co-authored by Chad Zani. Chad Zani is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. Chad is based in the Los Angeles, California area and uses his passion for auto detailing to teach others how to do so as he grows his company nationwide.There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 91% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 614,227 times.
To clean your car, you can either opt for a simple body and wheel clean, or you can choose to clean both the interior and exterior of your car. Before you begin cleaning the exterior, make sure the body of your car is cool and in the shade. Use specially formulated cleaners to clean the body and wheels of your car. To clean the interior, remove the floor mats and throw away trash. Vacuum the interior and use a foam cleanser to clean the carpet and upholstery. Finish cleaning your car by using a window cleaner to clean the inside and outside of your windows.
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How To Wash A Car The Right Way
Washing your car is pretty straightforward, but here are a few tips to get the job done right.
Youre probably wondering why weve made a how-to video about washing your car. Who could possibly need it right? Well there are actually a fair few common car washing mistakes that people make, and the most common one of all is using dishwashing liquid. Sure, it might leave your car looking clean and smelling lemon-fresh – but over time, using the wrong sort of detergent can actually harm your cars paint. So, if youve ever washed your car using dishwashing liquid, or youd just like to pick up a few helpful tricks, then this guide is for you.
This is the first part in a 3 part series, click the links below to learn more about the other parts.
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What You’ll Need:
Tips and Warnings:
- You should generally work from top to bottom on your car, avoiding washing the lower parts twice.
- Only use a moderate amount of force to scrub the panels, as using too much pressure may scratch your paintwork.
- Avoid dropping your sponge to the bottom of the bucket, there will be dirt and other contaminants there.
- Refill your bucket with clean water and new car wash whenever necessary dirty water doesnt clean well and excess contaminants may damage the paint.
- Re-wet the cars surface regularly while you are cleaning the car to prevent any water stains as it dries.
Before You Start
Tip #: Cleaning The Wheels
Firstly, you should start by washing the dirtiest part of your car, which is usually the wheels.
Wash your tyres separately with a new bucket of water to avoid spreading the dirt and grime onto your vehicles paintwork.
Invest in a tyre brush, a microfiber cloth, a separate sponge, and a tyre specific cleaning solution before cleaning your wheels.
Water-based, non-corrosive wheel cleaners are recommended for all types of car wheels and are ultimately the safest choice when it comes to tyre cleaning products.
You can then coat your wheels with your chosen cleaning product/s. Allow the solution to rest, then scrub the dirt from your tyres using a tyre brush.
Finally spray your wheels down with cold, clean water to remove all the cleaning product from the wheels. When youre finished cleaning the wheels make sure to dry them with a clean microfibre cloth.
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Are There Any General Guidelines You Should Follow When Washing A Car
Don’t wash your car when the body is hot, such as immediately after driving it or after it has been parked in direct sunlight for awhile. Heat speeds the drying of soap and water, making washing more difficult and increasing the chances that spots or deposits will form.
Don’t move the sponge in circles. This can create light, but noticeable scratches called swirl marks. Instead, move the sponge lengthwise across the hood and other body panels. And don’t continue using a sponge that’s dropped on the ground without thoroughly rinsing it out. The sponge can pick up dirt particles that can scratch the paint.
Do rinse all surfaces thoroughly with water before you begin washing to remove loose dirt and debris that could cause scratching. Once you begin, concentrate on one section at a time, washing and rinsing each area completely before moving on to the next one. This ensures that you have plenty of time to rinse before the soap dries. Start at the top, and then work your way around the car. Use a hose without a nozzle and let the water flow over the car from top to bottom. This creates a sheeting action that helps minimize pooling of water.
Do work the car-wash solution into a lather with plenty of suds that provide lots of lubrication on the paint surface. And rinse the sponge often. Using a separate bucket to rinse the sponge keeps dirt from getting mixed into the sudsy wash water.
Drying Avoid Watermarks And Unnecessary Damage
Water spots can ruin your hard, youll want to know how to remove water spots before you consider your car wash complete. However, youll need to be careful not to dry rub your paint to roughly or youll be at risk of scratching your paint. The key to drying your car in a safe manner is using minimal physical contact and before the sun dries the water for you. Drying your vehicle can be done in several ways, and you will want to decide what works best for you. Often people use air blowers, chamois, microfiber towels, or other soft options that are very absorbent. Alternatively, you can use deionized, pure water and allow the car to air dry once the exterior has been entirely cleaned.
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How To Wash A Car In 8 Easy Steps
- 1: Gather Car Washing Products
- 2: Fill First Bucket With Water And Soap, Fill Second Bucket With Just Water
- 3: Hose Off The Car Before Beginning The Washing Process
- 4: Wash The Wheels
- 5: Wash The Entire Car Using a Wash Mitt
- 6: Rinse The Car Using The Hose, Pressure Washer, Or Foam Gun
- 7: Dry The Car Using Clean Microfiber Towels
- 8: Clean Glass Exterior With Glass Cleaner
- Extra Credit: Once Dry, Wax The Car
You now know how to wash a car like a pro! Sure it takes a little elbow grease, patience, and time, but the reward is so worth the effort.
How To Wash A Car Properly
Washing a car is simple, but to do a great job of it there are a few things to bear in mind. This guide will run through how to get your car shiny and fresh in just a handful of steps.
What you need to wash a car
- A hose or pressure washer.
- Specialised car wash soap or wash wax.
- A sponge.
- Car polish.
1. Spray the car down
Use a hose or a pressure washer to clean most of the dirt and grit off the outside.
2. Work from the top with soap
Apply your soap or wash wax at the top, moving downwards so dirt doesnt run into parts youve already cleaned.
3. Rinse as you go
Avoid soap marks by washing down the parts youve soaped before moving onto other areas.
4. Wipe the area down
Leaving a car to dry naturally can result in a streaky finish or watermarks so make sure to dry sections properly using a microfibre cloth or towel.
5. Clean between the doors
When everything else is dry, open the doors and boot and use a damp cloth to clean between the cracks.
6. Clean the wheels
Use a separate damp cloth, brush or sponge to wash the wheels down too.
7. Wax and polish
Once the car is clean, waxing the outside or using car polish will help it look even better. It has the added bonus of protecting the car for longer, meaning fewer washes in the future.
You could also use this opportunity to perform some basic car checks to save on maintenance time later.
Book your MOT, service or vehicle check quickly and easily with Smart Care.
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