If you
have a darker car, you have probably noticed these swirls or
spiderweb-like scratches on the surface of your paint. These are
micro scratches. They are usually caused by improper washing and
drying techniques. We all get lazy and skip washing our cars and if
we get really desperate, we will go to the surprisingly damaging
automatic car wash. Never again! Lets clean our cars and do it the
right way!
While
it is important to wash your car often, you must also be careful that
the dirt and grim on your car doesn't damage the paint when you are
washing it off.
Here
are some tips to remember:
- Wash your car regularly: do try to wash your car once or twice a month.
- Try to wash your car in the shade and away from the wind. This prevents the shampoo from drying on the car and dust particles from sticking to your paint and scratching it up.
- Wash it carefully: use gentle materials. Start with a thorough rinse of the surface before you start washing. A sea sponge is a great tool for gently removing dirt and grime from your car. Look for wash mitts or sponges that have a high absorbency and are soft.
- Wash your car from top to bottom to prevent contamination. The bottom of your car tends to be the dirtiest. Save it for last to prevent spreading it to other parts of your car.
- Avoid using dish soap. Use soap that is designed for cars to minimize damage to your paint.
- Use 2 buckets to wash your car. One to remove dirt from your sponge and one for soapy water. After you use your sponge to suds up your car, dip it in a bucket of water to remove the dirt before dipping it into the soapy water. This prevents the dirt from scratching up your paint. Keep your sponge as clean as possible throughout the washing process.
- When you wash your wheels or particularly grimy areas, use a different set of materials to avoid cross contamination of your cleaning materials for future use.
- Dry it carefully: Using a regular dish towel can scratch up your paint. Try using a waffle towel or a microfiber towel wick away the water.
Overall,
most of us don't have time to be that person detailing their car
daily. Nor should we. Keeping basic maintenance is easy to do.
This diligence will ensure that our cars last us as long as possible.
Don't be that person with the “Wash Me” sign written in dirt.
Protect your paint and your car with regular washing.
Picture courtesy: http://www.carzy.co.in/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/car-wash-220.jpg
