Caring For A Classic Car
“We do a lot of hot rod shows, vintage car shows. A lot of these owners dont want to take out a bucket and hose I get that. Old cars like to trap water in places. Or they dont like to use soap for some crazy reason.
Ive seen guys with really expensive, custom-built cars that are doing nothing more than taking and this terrifies me a cup of water and an old terrycloth washcloth. They just dip the cloth in water and just wipe the panel down. To them, theyre removing the dust, theyre not using any soap and theyre not flooding the car.
But what they dont realize is that water is a terrible lubricant. And that old cotton towel has quite a bit of aggressiveness of the cotton loops. Youre going to scratch the paint. Youre doing something fairly horrible to the car. The one positive thing theyre doing is cleaning frequently. The problem is, their frequent process is not the safest process.”
Part 4 Of 7: Clean The Windows
Materials Needed
- Vinegar
- Water
Step 1: Create mixture. Make a window cleaner of one cup of water, one-half cup of vinegar and one-fourth cup of alcohol. Mix and put in a spray bottle.
Step 2: Spray and dry. Spray window solution onto windows and use newspaper to dry. Save this task for last to remove any other cleaners that might have accidentally gotten on the glass.
Step 3: Remove bugs. Use plain vinegar to remove bug splatter.
What Customers Are Saying
This product received an average rating of 4.8 stars out of 5 after about 580 customers reviewed it. Its score remained the same after adding in reviews from other e-commerce websites, which means its Amazon score is 0.1 stars above the Amazon average for all five products, but its overall score is equal to the overall average for all products across all websites.
Most customers liked this product because of how slowly it dried. They said that this slower dry time allowed you to rinse off the product before it dried and left water spots on your car. They also liked how much the product foamed. There were only a handful of customers that rated this product below 4 stars. However, the few that did said that they didnt think it left their cars shinier than they would have been with a non-wax car soap.
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How Often To Wash A Car
This will depend on how often you drive your car. Do you just run errands or do you have long daily commutes? If youre traveling from Covington to Independence for work, aim to wash your car every two weeks and wax it every six months. If youre taking your Chevy advantage vehicle, the Chevrolet Traverse, off the beaten path for off-roading adventures, then you will want to clean it as soon as you can afterward.
Park Your Car In The Shade
You should try your best to wash your car in the shade and out of direct sunlight. This will keep your car wash shampoo from drying before you can rinse, as well as preventing water spots from appearing on the surface of your car and windows. Youll also want to try to wash your car on a relatively calm day, since wind or even a breeze can kick particles of dirt back onto your wet car.
Once your car is parked, make sure all windows and sunroofs are closed. If youre able to, pull the windshield wipers away from the windshield until they click and are in the propped position.
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Adams Car Wash Shampoo
This car wash soap comes in several sizes on its own or in a car wash kit. If youre new to DIY car washing, you can purchase the soap with a bucket and glove so that you have all of the necessary tools. If you regularly wash your car and already have the tools, you can buy the soap on its own in three different sizes.
This soap has both a sudsing and slick formula, which allows the dirt particles to be easily picked up without scratching your cars paint.
Read The Labelsno Seriously
Before applying anything to your vehicle, read the labels on the products you plan to use. Not all automotive cleaning products are all-purpose. The wrong product could even damage the paint, clear coat, or other finishes inside and out. If you have any doubts as to what your cars components are made of, always default to the mildest cleaning products you can find.
Reading the directions will help save time and money and ensure youre using the right amount of product for the task at hand.
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Gather Car Washing Products
Lets get started by rounding up the products that will make your car shine! More than anything, its important to use the correct products when you wash a car. Using the wrong products could potentially scratch or damage your paint or degrade the finish.
First, you will need two buckets. If you read that and thought, Well, I only have one bucket, so Ill just use that, we promise you,; it is worthwhile to use two buckets perhaps the most important step in how to wash a car! The first bucket will be for soapy water. The second bucket will be used as a dirty rinse bucket and will also have the next item you need: a dirt-trap. This 4.5 Gallon Detailing Bucket and a Dirt Trap Bucket Insert from Chemical Guys are great options.
Next, you need to make sure that you have a hose. If you dont have access to running water while washing your car for any reason, you can use a Spray Detailer from Shine Armor with a Microfiber Towel for a waterless wash. With that being said, using water whenever possible is our recommendation.
Then, gather the products needed to wash your cars wheels. You will need a Wheel Brush and Wheel and Tire Cleaner.
Finally, gather the products used to clean the entirety of your vehicle. This includes a Foam Gun , a Wash Mitt, Car Wash Soap, and Glass Cleaner. If you want to go the extra mile, you can finish off your car wash with Car Wax and Detailing Spray.
In short, all of the items you need can be found here:;
Dry With A Clean Soft Towel
Wipe water from all surfaces with a clean, soft towel, preferably one made of chamois or microfiber cloth that will readily absorb water but wont leave streaks. Though it sounds counterintuitive, chamois and microfiber do a better job of drying when theyre slightly damp. Rinse and wring them out periodically to keep them clean and damp.
Dry Your Car With a Clean, Damp Chamois. Photo Credit: Getty / NorGal
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Choose The Right Weather And Time Of Day To Clean Your Car
The possibility of rain may seem like a risk to avoid, but cleaning your car on a cloudy day is actually much better than in direct sunlight. Washing a car in the sun might seem like the best thing to do, but the heat will dry out your car between washing and cleaning, which could leave water marks on the bodywork. The heat of the sun will also reduce the effectiveness of your cleaning products.
Of course, there’s no point in washing a car in the rain , and if it’s sunny and you must clean your car, then pick a shaded area to get to work, or choose either the early morning or late afternoon to do it. That’s when the sun isn’t quite as strong, and there’s more natural shade to work in.
How To Wash A Car
Find out the best way to wash a car
Keeping your car clean is important for a variety of reasons. The obvious one is that you want to take pride in your vehicle.
But it also has a number of benefits as well, including keeping your vision clear while driving by removing marks from your windscreen;and mirrors.
To help you clean up your car, this guide will run through how to wash a car at home and some of the top questions around best practice when wiping it down.
AA Member? Get a discounted car wash with Smart Benefits.
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Wash Your Windows With Ammonia
Add 60 mL of;household ammonia to 1 litre of water, pour it into a plastic bottle with a watertight cap and keep it in your trunk for washing the windscreen and windows. As soon as your windscreen begins to get dirty, take out the solution and apply it with a sponge; then dry the windscreen with a soft cloth or paper towels.
How To Make A Homemade Car Wash Solution For General Use
Before washing your car using any cleaning products, check if they are appropriate for your vehicle first. An old car may require you to use a different homemade car wash solution with a polishing recipe, while a new car doesnt need one because it may still have a clear coat on the cars surface.
DIY Car Wash Soap Recipe
- 1 cup of broken down mild soap or liquid soap
- 1 cup baby shampoo
- 1 bucket of warm water
- 1 to 2 buckets of cold water
To use this recipe, mix the soap in a bucket of warm water and use it to soap your car. Then, rinse it properly with cold water. This recipe is safe even for new cars because it is formulated with a mild soap mixture to prevent stripping off the cars protective wax.
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Poor Washing Patterns Pay Attention To What You Are Washing
Think about where the most dirt on your car comes from. Consider it like washing your own body. You wouldnt start with your feet and then use the same soap to wash your face. The same goes for your vehicle. Start from the top and wash downward. Youll want to frequently rotate in clean towels to avoid smearing dirt or rubbing debris into your paint.
What Is A Good Substitute For Car Wash Soap
Car wash soap is powerful stuff no doubt weve all felt the suds slip through our fingers and watched with mild awe as it scrubs away even deep stains or smears on our prized rides. But although car wash soap can come through for you more often than not, sometimes you have to make a substitution.
In these cases, its helpful to know what a good substitute for car wash soap is and where you can find it. Turns out, there are plenty of excellent car wash soap alternatives that you probably have within your home right now. In other cases, there might be other cleaning products you can use.
Lets break it all down so youre never in a bind when you need to wash your car, but dont have the all-important car soap!
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Waxing Not Too Much Not Too Little
There are a few considerations to make when waxing your car. First and foremost, you need to have a fully cleaned car before youre able to apply wax. The most common mistake when waxing a car is that people use too much wax or apply too many layers. On the flip side, you can apply too little wax and the car will be inconsistently polished. If youre waxing your own car, pay special attention to the directions on your particular wax product. The product should describe how the wax should be applied. ;Its almost important to apply wax at the right temperature, preferably not in direct sunlight. Lastly, ensure that your applicator has an entirely clean surface. At NuWash, your technician can apply one of three different wax options; a spray wax, hand wax, and clay bar polish.
Wash The Exterior Top To Bottom
Moving on to the body, start by thoroughly rinsing the vehicle with clear water to remove as much dirt, bird droppings and other stuff as possible so you wont be rubbing sand or other grit into the paint finish when you wash with a sponge. Start with the roof and work your way down to the wheels and tires. Be sure to spray inside the wheel wells, under the rocker panels along the sides and under the bumpers and around suspension components, where dirt can collect.
If there still are insect strikes, bird droppings, spots of tar or other crud after rinsing, apply a bug and tar remover to take care of them.
Dip a sponge or mitt into soapy water and thoroughly wash all surfaces, one section at a time.
One approach is to wash the horizontal surfaces with soap and rinse with clear water before moving on to the sides, front and rear so the soap doesnt have a chance to dry.
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Carpets Take Your Time
Carpets can be hard to clean because the dirt and grease on the bottom of your shoes get tracked and rubbed in. Often, people make the mistake of using harsh chemicals to try to remove these stains, or not taking the time to rinse their soap out. This, in turn, can harm the carpet, and cause the interior to attract more dirt and grime. Cleaning carpets is a long process, and to do it right you must take the time to wash, rinse, and dry it properly.
If you want to clean your carpet yourself, you can trust a professional technician from NuWash to take care of your carpet cleaning. If youre in the Austin or Dallas areas and youre tired of trying to keep your vehicle clean, let our expert mobile car wash techs take care of everything from the wash to the detail.;
How To Clean Your Car With Household Items
Joyce Morse
Take a look in your cabinets and youll discover cleaning supplies just waiting to be used on your car. When you use ingredients from around the house, cleaning the inside and outside of your vehicle is straightforward. They are less expensive and safe to use on many materials. Follow these Parts for a sparkling interior and exterior.
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Yes We Are Car Freaks
And that is how we wash our cars at the Bowden household. All of these methods and tips have been pooled together by 3 generations of car freaks.
As every motoring enthusiast has different needs for their different cars and locations around our large continent, none of this should be taken as pure gospel. If any of what has been written goes against your regular methods, then think about it, weigh up both of the options and go with the one that is best for your car.
All the products in this article can be found in our stockists throughout Australia. Find a link at the very bottom of the webpage to them.
If you have any questions, please email;;or call our office on 1800 351 308.
Love your car,
How Pollen Can Damage Your Paint
“Because it is naturally occurring material and its got that more of an ability to decompose that just regular dirt, stick to the paint more tenaciously. Even in very tiny fragments, it will stick and bond to the paint. After that happens, it doesnt come off when you wash the car. This is one of the components that will make your paint feel like 80-grit sandpaper after youve washed it. Then you need to step up to using a clay bar or something similar to remove that material.
It can also be hard and a little scratchy. Its on a very small scale, obviously. But if you dont have the proper lubrication and youre not using a microfiber towel to really pick it up and pull it into the towel, you start to put really fine little micro scratches into the paint.”
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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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Learn More: How to maintain a glossy showroom shine – .
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
