How to Wash Your Car Properly

This probably sounds really odd, but I think that dirty cars look sort of cool in that they show the car has been used a lot etc. The thing is though, this only works for cars that are really, really dirty or ones that look like they've been used off road and so have mud splats up around the wheel arches etc.

The problem is though that the majority of dirty cars don't look like this, they just look neglected and untidy. This is the state that my car tends to get to no matter how often I use it and so rather than find a forest rally stage to take part in it inevitable gets to the point where I decide to give it a wash.

There is a correct way to wash a car though and the following is intended as a guide for those of you who are new to the world of motoring, and therefore to the world of keeping your car clean or got those of you who may be thinking that you might not be washing your car correctly.

First of all try and find a spot where the washing process won't be interrupted by falling leaves etc.

Next, check the instructions on your bottle of car shampoo and prepare yourself a bucket full of warm soapy water. For the time being though put the bucket to one side. One mistake that a lot of people might make is to not hose off any excess dirt or grit from the surface of the car. Do this with a hose or a pressure washer as to rub this off with a wet cloth or a sponge may cause tiny scratches in the surface of your paintwork. Make sure you hose off all the surfaces from the top to the bottom of the car including the wheels and tires.

Now, get your sponge or cleaning cloth and lather it up in your bucket of soapy water and clean the whole of the roof of the car. Once you have completed sponging off the roof, give it a good rinse with the hose.

Next, pick one side of the car and do the same. Give it a good clean followed by a thorough rinse. Repeat this for the other side followed by the front and the rear. Make sure you rinse between each section.

Once you have completed all four 'sides' give the car another good rinse to try and stop any water spots developing. After rinsing take a towel or chamois leather and thoroughly dry the surface by laying it flat against the paintwork and dragging it across the surface. You may want to rinse the towel or leather in a bucket of clean warm water before squeezing it dry and repeating. Do this for the whole car starting again with the roof before doing all four sides starting at the top and working your way down.

Now give the windows a good clean all around using some glass polish and a rag after you make sure the surface is dry. Do the inside while your at it.

If you have any metal or chrome on your car give it special attention and a good rub with a cloth to polish away any water spots.