The Dummies’ Guide on Washing and Detailing a Dirty Car

Keeping your car clean is as important as checking its engines, exhaust systems, and metal parts. Who’d want to drive a dusty and dirty vehicle, after all? Now if you’re a complete dummy when it comes to external car maintenance, then you’ve come to the right place. Below are a few simple tips on how to get started.

Use Your Hands

Simply put, the best way to wash your car is by using your hands. Heck, even professional auto cleaners themselves highly recommend it! Moreover, when you’re hand washing your precious auto, it’s kind of satisfying – as if you feel like you’re spending quality time with your ride instead of doing a chore. For best results, use the right type of soap and sponge (You can easily get those at auto shops).

Get Non-Acid-Based Tire Cleaners

Using non-acid based cleaners when doing your ride’s tires is the most appropriate thing to do – especially when you’re doing the car washing yourself. Acid-based cleaners can cause bare alloy wheels to oxidize and pit, hence damaging the wheels’ paint or metallic coating. By using non-acid based cleaners, you get to clean the tires without worry.

Dust the Interior

For best results, use portable compressors; these can effortlessly get rid of any dusts inside your vehicle safely. Start with your car’s air duct; that way, you get to improve the air quality of your ride. Then proceed with dusting the rest of the interior. Don’t use common household cleaners, though; despite a lot of them having perfumes and being sweet-smelling, most of these products don’t really help in the long run.

Add Wax Protection

Some car owners underestimate the power of wax and the helpful protection it can give your car’s paint job. Although the coat will eventually wear off as time passes, it’s still advisable that you wax your ride every now and then. Not only does it give the paint a good gloss, but it’s also the main line of defense against scratches. Waxing provides a sacrificial layer on top of the clear coat so that when you try to clean or remove any dirt and grime, you can be sure that you aren’t tampering or rubbing against the paint.

Give It Some Detail

Most people give their rides a few details just so it would look cooler than other vehicles. The best way to start doing this is at the windows. Wax the rear and side windows to protect them from getting scratched. Then proceed with adding the details you want. Keep in mind, though, that you should not put anything on the windshield except water-repelling substances like Rain-X; you don’t want it fogging and impeding your vision.

As mentioned above, who’d want to drive a dirty, stinking car? Certainly, no one would want to ride in one, either! So remember to wash and detail your car from time to time to keep its luster and shine. By doing so you keep your car clean and good-looking, truly making it a hot ride that everyone would want.