veryone enjoys a clean car, but unfortunately not everyone is familiar with the right tools and practices to get their car looking like new again. With this in mind, following are some tips to help you find the best products help turn your vehicle from a crusty, ugly buggy to an immaculately clean machine.
Tire Care
Some people may be wondering why their tires are the first thing we’re focusing on in this article — we’re glad you thought to ask! When you’re cleaning a car, it’s important that the tires are cleaned first so that any solution that gets on your paint during the tire cleaning process will be cleaned off directly afterwards when you’re washing your vehicle. If you’re cleaning your own tires, it’s also recommended that you use products that don’t contain any solvents with high acidity. This is because acid-based cleaners can damage your wheels and cause discoloration if your wheels are painted or have a common type of coating. It’s safe to use degreaser on your tires, but avoid using any type of detergent. If you use detergent and any of it gets on the vehicle’s paint, it could potentially cause damage.
Washing
Coming as a surprise to probably no one, the absolute best way to get the exterior of your car shining bright is by hand washing it. This is good for two reasons: Not only does washing something by hand give you self-satisfaction, but it’s also a productive and often therapeutic stress reliever. One thing you should always be aware of, however, is that dish detergent is actually not the best product to use on your vehicle because it can cause your car’s protective coating to be stripped away, ultimately making your vehicle much more susceptible to scratches, scrapes and other exterior damage. Instead, it’s a good idea to use a solution that’s specifically made for cars; this will get your car squeaky clean without damaging its finish.
After you’re finished washing your car, it’s important not to let it sit and air-dry, which may end up causing dirt and other particles to cling to its surface. Instead, you should try to dry your car with a rubber-bladed squeegee. Using a squeegee takes only a little time, but it keeps your car looking shiny for much longer.
Waxing
After it’s been a while since your last waxing, you may begin to notice stains and scratches forming on its exterior. Liquid spray wax is ok to use for touching up, but it should never be used in place of regular waxing.
It’s often suggested that you wax your vehicle at least four times a year, especially if your vehicle is parked outside a lot. Also, when waxing, it’s safe to use either paste or liquid wax — both work well. If you want to be like the pros, you may want to apply two coats of wax; the second one just to make sure everything is covered. After that, any additional coats are not beneficial and will be a waste of your wax and time.
Cleaning your car doesn’t just make your vehicle look better — it makes driving your vehicle around much more enjoyable, too. Next time you’re washing your car, remember these tips to make sure your vehicle gets the best clean possible without harming its exterior!
Written by the staff of Custom Complete Automotive. Custom Complete Automotive offers the best oil change Columbia MO has to offer, as well as an array of other auto repair services.