If you care about your car's exterior, you'll avoid those quickie car washes with the big brushes that can do more harm than good and do a DIY car wash that will achieve the best results. Most people that a wash and wax is the best way to keep their car shiny and clean. Their heart is in the right place, but there is much more to washing a car than those two things. We spent a day with Mike Pennington and Rick McDonough of Meguiars, who demonstrated the proper way to wash your car and maintain a clean exterior. We regularly hand wash our 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300D using a pressure-washer and mitt with soap and water, that helps remove the dirt we can see, but we've been neglecting a few important steps.
Evaluate the Condition of Your Vehicle
Evaluating the condition of your vehicle will steer you towards how it should be cleaned. A new car or one that already has a good coat of wax on it, may only need a wash and wax to maintain it, but a car with an average to neglected exterior may need to be clean and polished as well.
Read the Label
Before using any type of car cleaning chemical, it is important to read the label. The application for soap, wax, or detailer can vary from brand to brand and vehicle to vehicle. For example, using a chrome wheel cleaner which is extremely acidic on an aluminum wheel can ruin it. Also invest in premium microfiber clothes and keep separate piles for those used on your paint, wheels, and windows. Wash your towels and cleaning mitts after every use.
Washing Your Car
Washing your car will remove loose contaminants such as dust, dirt, and mud from the exterior of your vehicle. Always use a car washing soap and not a liquid detergent or dish cleaner, which can damage the paint and strip away wax. Rinse your car first to remove larger pieces of dirt which can scratch your car when washing, and use clean mitts and drying cloths.
Maintain a Shine and Protection
After you've done the hard work of washing, cleaning, and protecting your car, you'll need to take steps to maintain it's appearance. Keep a spray detailer and clean microfiber cloth in your trunk, which can come in handy for quickly removing dust, overspray, and bird droppings. If your car is relatively clean and all of these steps seem daunting and time-consuming, a one-step cleaner wax may be the best choice for you. After washing your car, use it to clean, polishing, and protect your car in one product. It can be applied by hand or with a polisher and you'll achieve much better results using a product like this instead of just going straight to wax after washing.