What's the best way to wash your car?

Folks are always asking me how I have kept my cars so clean and shiny and I usually tell them its hard work, but today I thought it was time to share a few of my car cleaning tips that should help you keep your ride clean and looking good!

There are more car cleaning products on the market today than ever and I know you are most likely overwhelmed anytime you try to find the best stuff to use on your car or truck (even if it’s not a show piece).  I have been told all of my life that you should never use normal dish soap to clean your car that it is too harsh and will damage your paint and/or strip all of the wax on your car off.  Well, I’m not sure if that is true or not, but I have always used a soap specifically designed for cars.  The products I use when I hand wash my car are not the highest priced stuff in the store, but I do use ones that give you lots of soapy suds.  Always make sure you let your car cool and try to wash it in the shade if possible. 

The best way to wash your car is to use two different wash mitts (I never use any type of sponge……it can trap dirt or grime to easy).  Use one mitt to clean the car from the top down and wash it in sections, that way you can wash a section and then quickly rinse it off (not letting the soap dry).  Use the second mitt to wash the lower section of your car and the tires and wheels.  This second mitt will always be the one that removed most of the road grit and grime from the lower sections.  You never want to use this one on the main areas of your car like the hood or top.  Don’t even put the second mitt in the bucket until you are finished washing the upper sections of the car.  Some folks even use a second bucket for this mitt.  Make sure you rinse the car off completely with lots of water to remove any soap.

2013 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta………Photo courtesy of Road and Track

Here is another tip that adds a little time but is worth the effort.  I use one of the synthetic chamois cloths similar to the ones the Olympic athletes used to dry off with after getting out of the pool events.  This allows you to safely dry the car and remove all of the water that has beaded up on the paint……water spots look awful and collect more dirt.  Then all you have left to do is put some shine on your tires and you are ready for the local cruise-in!!

I hope these simple tips will help you keep your ride clean……….stay tuned for another blog soon that will guide you how to wax your car and give it that show shine!!

Joseph