When you’ve made the investment in a luxury vehicle, you want it to look like you just drove it off the lot for as long as you own it. No one’s impressed by a dirty car, after all!
These simple tips will help you clean your car like a pro.
Prep
Get the right products
Specialized cleaning supplies for cars are designed to wash without removing paint and the top clear coat. Read the bottles to see how much water to mix them with and follow the instructions exactly.
Park in the shade
Parking your car in direct sunlight will cause water to dry too quickly and leave water spots behind
Remove jewelry
You don’t want to scratch your paint job while trying to clean it! Take off rings, dangling necklaces and metal belt buckles.
Washing
Move from top to bottom
Whether you’re spraying your car down or scrubbing away dirt and grime, always wash from top to bottom. The bottom of your car is always the dirtiest, and moving in the opposite direction will just spread that mess around.
Don’t re-use dropped materials
If you drop a sponge or towel, don’t just pick it up and get back to work. It’ll pick up all sorts of dust and dirt that will scratch your paint if you try to re-use it. Use a new cloth, or wash the dirty one thoroughly before resuming washing.
Use a separate sponge for the wheels
Use a coarser sponge on your wheels to clear away brake dust. Never use this sponge on the rest of your car or you’ll get the grit from the rims and tires everywhere.
Drying
Don’t waste time
Letting your car dry in the sun will leave it covered in water spots. Take care to dry it properly as soon as you’re done soaping and rinsing.
Use a microfiber cloth
Regular towels will shed fibers all over your car. Microfiber clothes are thick and absorbent and won’t leave anything behind.
Dry hidden areas
Open up all the doors as well as the hood and trunk to dry off any water that’s gotten inside.
Detailing
Use spray detailer before a claybar
A claybar will pick up minuscule dirt and dust particles, but it shouldn’t be used on dry paint. Use a generous amount of spray detailer before rubbing with the claybar, again working from top to bottom.
Don’t over-compound
Compound is like sandpaper for your paint job. It removes scratches from the surface by grinding down the clear coat, so you shouldn’t use it every time you detail your car. Only compound sections that need it.
Don’t over-wax
A wax finish temporarily hides any remaining scratches and protects your paint from UV rays and contaminants. A thin layer will do—any more and you’ll just have more wax to wipe off at the end.
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