Hello, car enthusiasts! Welcome to our blog where we explore everything auto-related. Today, we're going to share the top 10 car wash mistakes that experts warn you to avoid in their informative guides. Let's dive in and save your car from unnecessary damage!
1. Cleaning Bottom-Up Instead of Top-Down
Contrary to what you might think, cleaning the bottom of the car first could lead to swirls and scratches. The lower portions of the car usually have more dirt than the upper portions. By cleaning the bottom first, you risk dragging this dirt and grime up to the top. Experts suggest finishing the upper portions first, then using a different pair of mitts to clean the lower parts of the car.
2. Reusing Dropped Mitts or Towels
Never drop your mitt or towel and then use it on the car again. Why? The floor is full of rocks, debris, sand, and dirt that can cause significant scratches to your car's paintwork.
3. Skipping a Proper Pre-Wash
Before making any physical contact on the car, you need to remove the majority of the dirt. You can either use a snow foam or pre-wash spray to loosen and break down the dirt before pressure washing it off.
4. Allowing Liquid to Dry on the Car
Never let any liquid dry and bake onto the car. Even if you leave tap water on a car to dry on a hot day, it can cause watermarks on the paintwork. If left long enough, these watermarks will require paint correction to remove, which can be costly.
5. Using Paper Towels, Rags, or Tissues
These materials are not designed for your car and can cause damage. Microfiber cloths, on the other hand, are filled with hundreds of thousands of little fibers which trap the dirt, pulling it away from the surface.
6. Wiping Your Car with a Dry Microfiber
Even as great as microfiber cloths are, you still need a form of lubrication to not cause scratches and properly clean the surface. So, spray the cloth or the car with an exterior detailer and you'll be good to go.
7. Using Oily, Slippery, or Shiny Products on the Interior
Avoid using any protection or restoration products on your interior floor, pedals, steering wheel, or gear shifter. You do not want your feet to slip off the pedal while driving.
8. Not Keeping Your Equipment Clean
If your equipment is dirty, how can you make the car clean? Also, the equipment can cause scratches too. So, it's crucial to clean your mitts, microfibers, and brushes regularly.
9. Being Too Aggressive on the Soft Top Roof
Avoid using a pressure washer too close to the roof or a very stiff bristle brush on a soft top roof. It's best to gently use a softer bristle brush, like those used for cleaning leather.
10. Letting the Vacuum Hose Touch Your Car
The vacuum hose drags along the ground and collects dirt and grit. If this gets onto your car, it will only make the car dirty. A top tip to avoid this is by holding the hose in between your legs to keep it from touching the car.
Remember, taking care of your car is not just about regular maintenance checks but also about how you clean it. A clean car not only looks good but also runs better and lasts longer. So, follow these tips to avoid common car wash mistakes and keep your car in tip-top shape.
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Stay tuned for more insightful posts. Keep shining and drive safe!