There’s no better way to make your car look brand new than by giving it a thorough cleaning both inside and outside. This article will take you step by step through washing the body of your car, scrubbing the wheels, defogging the headlights, applying wax, and cleaning the interior so that everything is left sparkling and spotless.
Park your car in a shaded area.
Washing your car in a cool, shaded area will prevent soap suds from drying quickly and leaving stains on your car before you get the chance to rinse them off. If the body of your car is hot from sitting in the sun or from driving, wait 20 to 30 minutes for your car to cool down before cleaning it.
- If you don’t have a shady spot where you can wash your car, work in small sections. Rinse off the soap with water from a hose and dry it as soon as possible to avoid soap and water stains.
- If you’re washing your car at home, park it on the grass, gravel, or other surfaces that’ll absorb the water you use to wash it. This helps prevent sending the dirty water down storm drains that usually lead to natural water sources.
Fill two buckets with warm water.
In 1 of the buckets, squirt a few drops of specially formulated car wash shampoo, then fill it up with water. Fill the other bucket only with warm water. The bucket with plain water is where you’ll rinse your washcloth while the car cleaner solution will go on the outside of your car.
- Do not use dishwashing detergent or hand soap to clean your car. These harsh household cleaners may strip off your car’s wax and damage the car’s exterior.
Rinse the car with a hose to remove loose dirt.
Before you apply the car wash shampoo, use your hose to spray down the entire body of the car to knock off any loose dirt or debris. If there are leaves, twigs, and other big pieces of debris, simply remove them by hand.
- Set the hose on a high-pressure setting to rinse hard-to-remove dirt, debris, and grime. However, make sure the pressure isn’t too high since that can remove your car’s wax or paint.
- Use special bug and tar removersto get rid of bugs, bird droppings, and other stubborn stains. Spray a liberal amount on the problem area, let it sit for a few minutes (following your product’s instructions), then rinse off the product with water and a clean cloth.
Rinse the car with a hose to remove loose dirt.
Before you apply the car wash shampoo, use your hose to spray down the entire body of the car to knock off any loose dirt or debris. If there are leaves, twigs, and other big pieces of debris, simply remove them by hand.
- Set the hose on a high-pressure setting to rinse hard-to-remove dirt, debris, and grime. However, make sure the pressure isn’t too high since that can remove your car’s wax or paint.
- Use special bug and tar removersto get rid of bugs, bird droppings, and other stubborn stains. Spray a liberal amount on the problem area, let it sit for a few minutes (following your product’s instructions), then rinse off the product with water and a clean cloth.
Rinse the car with a hose to remove loose dirt.
- Set the hose on a high-pressure setting to rinse hard-to-remove dirt, debris, and grime. However, make sure the pressure isn’t too high since that can remove your car’s wax or paint.
- Use special bug and tar removersto get rid of bugs, bird droppings, and other stubborn stains. Spray a liberal amount on the problem area, let it sit for a few minutes (following your product’s instructions), then rinse off the product with water and a clean cloth.