How To Wash Your Car: Detailing Basics

How To Wash Your Car: Detailing Basics

Sure, having a mobile detailing company come out, bringing your car to a detailing shop, or having it done at your local hand wash is convenient. Other times, you’d rather activate your inner detailer and wash your own car. This article will make sure you do so correctly.

What you will need

• Two microfiber wash mitts

• Three clean buckets

• Two dirt traps

• A highly lubricating wash

• A foam gun

• A clean, microfiber drying towel

• A blower or air compressor

Setting up

First, fill all of your buckets with clean water and add a few ounces of your soap to two of them. Set your dirt traps in the bottom of each to trap pollutants in the bottom of your buckets. Place your two mitts in the two buckets with soap. You will use the third bucket to rinse your mitts periodically during the wash.

Washing your car

Rinse the loose dirt off of your vehicle and spray soap all over your car using a foam gun. Start off by cleaning your rims and tires with the first bucket. Then, wash the vehicle from top to bottom. Go in straight washing patterns and dunk your mitt into the water-only bucket to avoid smearing dirt back onto other areas of the car. Once the entire vehicle has been washed, thoroughly rinse all of the soap and debris off of the car.

Drying your vehicle

If you have a blower or air compressor, blow water from any cracks, mirrors, or difficult-to-reach areas. Then, using your microfiber drying towel, dry the entire vehicle from top to bottom.

The gist

Washing your car isn’t rocket science, and it can be a very fun and satisfying process. Making sure you have the proper technique when washing will protect your vehicle’s longevity and value, while also making sure you’re always rolling up in a clean car.