BUFFALO, NY — A good car washing is important and most car owners love it when their vehicle shines. A clean car can actually make you smile. Here’s how to properly clean and care for your car.
First tip: Remember always to use automotive products. Household products are for the home and can wreck materials in your auto.
Lauren’s 4 Ws to a squeaky clean and shiny ride.
Wash:
- Always clean a car from the top to the bottom. Never wash or wax a car in direct sunlight. This way dirt will run off the car over the yet-to-be-cleaned areas.
- Use a hose and spray nozzle to wet down the car and wash away debris and dirt.
- Fill the bucket with warm water and car soap, then use a sponge or chamois (your choice) to clean the vehicle.
- Remember to rinse out the sponge or chamois frequently.
- Aggressive rubbing can grind dirt into the paint finish resulting in scratches and swirls.
- Wash the vehicle in sections – you don’t want the soap to dry in areas you haven’t rinsed yet.
- Remove natures stains with a bug and tar remover.
See also: How to properly clean your wheels
Wipe:
- Use a water blade, chamois or towels to remove all the excess water.
- Wet towel are great for wiping down door jambs too.
- Inspect for chips, paint damage and rust – a body shop should repair these before the damage gets worse.
- Water spots can form on paint and glass surfaces when water droplets are allowed to dry on the vehicle.
Windows:
- Wipe down the windows and side mirrors.
- Glass cleaner and old newspapers work well too.
Wheels:
- That evil looking black dust on your wheels can be cleaned if you do it right. Wheels and wheel covers become coated with disc brake dust that can form during daily driving.
- There are many great wheel cleaners out there. Just make sure that if you have aluminum, chrome or special wheels you get a product that won’t destroy their finish.
- Make sure to read labels or ask for help at the parts store.
Besides having a nice, clean car, this is a work out and you can burn up to 200 calories an hour. This can also be a great time to get the kids to help and they’ll learn too.
Check out: www.laurenfix.com
