How to Properly Wash Your Car

You’ve finally taken the steps to purchase or lease a Chevrolet vehicle, and have driven off the lot in the car of your dreams. Now, the only thing left to do is take care of it. As soon as you leave the dealership in your new vehicle, you can begin accumulating dirt, dust, bugs, and other stains on your vehicle that will only grow with time. Needless to say, keeping your car washed is critically important, especially with the fall and winter months approaching. This process is easy to overlook, but we are here to offer some effective strategies to properly wash your car.

 

Benefits

Aside from having a clean and shiny car, there are some major benefits to cleaning your car regularly. Your vehicle should be washed at least once every two weeks, depending on how often and far your commute is and the weather you’re driving in. Washing your car regularly can prevent damage, improve the overall condition, help with safety, create better value over time, and extend the life of the car. Besides the physical benefits, some mental benefits include a feeling of accomplishment as well as being clean and organized. 

 

Taking it to a Car Wash

Now you might be thinking, “Can’t I just take my car to an automatic car wash and get the job done within minutes?” Of course you can, but the feeling and outcome is not going to be as good as doing it yourself. When washing the car yourself, you have total control over the entire process, and therefore less chance of getting any scratches on your vehicle. You will also have a stronger sense of accomplishment, having done the cleaning yourself. Taking your car to a car wash can also become pricey over time, as you have to pay each time you go or pay for a membership. With washing your car at home, you will likely have to make a one-time purchase for all of the gear you need. If you do, however, opt to go to a car wash, we recommend going to a self-service wash so you can have more control of the process like at home.

 

The Process

When washing your vehicle, there is a process and some items you’ll need to purchase. You are going to need a water hose, multiple buckets, soap/car shampoo, wash mitts, a tire brush, and a couple microfiber towels to dry the car. Depending how well you want to fully detail the exterior of the vehicle, you might need wax, tire shine, bug remover mitts, and a soap gun. The step by step process for washing your vehicle is a relatively easy process to follow. 

 

1. Wash your car in a more shaded area with less sun keeping the car from drying too often and keeping the shampoo wet.
2. Fill one bucket with water and soap or shampoo and another bucket with clean water to rinse your mitts and rags. Using a hose with a nozzle with high pressure is highly recommended. Thoroughly rinse the surface of the car to fully soak it from top to bottom. Once the car is wet and you’ve removed the first layer of dirt and dust, it’s time to get the mitts soapy and start scrubbing the vehicle. Remember to clean in small areas of the car and rinse frequently. Scrubbing softly in straight lines rather than a circle motion to loosely lift dirt off the paint of the car is recommended. In some areas such as the mirror caps, windshield, and front bumper you may need to scrub a bit harder due to the amount of bugs stuck to those areas. When rinsing the scrubbed area of the vehicle, make sure you change the setting of the hose to a less powerful mode, giving it less time to dry. When cleaning your wheels, use a brush to get inside of the wheel itself and inside the wheel wells. Scrubbing this area can be challenging to get the hard to reach areas and stronger dirt off of the tires. 

 

1. Once the car has been washed, scrubbed, and rinsed, it’s time to dry. Using a soft microfiber towel, remove the bulk of water still on the car. Then use a second microfiber towel to finish up any small areas, left over streaks, and water droplets. After the car is dry and has been sitting, you may use some final touches with products mentioned earlier such as wax and tire shine and use it to your liking. 

 

This is the general step by step process and items you will need to successfully wash your car. We hope you enjoy the full benefits you’ll get from this experience. Always to remember to go the Extra Mile for your vehicle, so your vehicle can continue to go the Extra Mile for you!

Tags: Austintown, Car Wash, Greenwood Chevrolet
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