Simple Car Wash Tips

Most true automotive enthusiasts won't let anyone bathe their baby—except possibly their properly trained progeny. After all, even "brushless" automated car washes can scrape trapped grit across the paint. Thus, many hours are spent hand-washing your car the old-fashioned way. But better living through chemistry now allows us to get superior results from this time-honored process.

The Right Way Better living through chemistry now allows us to get superior results from this time-honored process.
The biggest mistake people make when washing their cars is not using a product that's specifically formulated for automotive paint. Dishwashing detergent is way too aggressive for automotive finishes, particularly clear coats. The common misconception is that clear coats serve as armor plating. What most people don't realize is that clear coat is simply unpigmented paint. Because automotive paint color is made with metals, clear coat is actually softer than the color coats. So, choose a car-wash product that's either clear-coat safe (made with lubricants that prevent scratching) or blended specifically for your car's type of paint. Car-wash-specific products also contain conditioners that bring out the paint's shine.

Washing Tips
1. Always park the vehicle in the shade and allow the body to cool to air temp. This increases evaporation time, which decreases the probability of water spots. If possible, park on an incline to help water drain from recesses and trim pieces.


2. Hose off loose debris with a firm spray of water.


3. Mix the suds according to the product's recommended proportions: too much car-wash chemical in the mix can leave a residue, cause streaks, and cut short the wax's useful life.