Safe Washing Techniques
Below I have outlined some helpful washing techniques that will help reduce marring and scratching of your vehicles paint. All of the washing products mentioned in this article can be found at Danase Detailing Supply.
Proper Washing Tools:
Wash your vehicle by hand with a good wool or chenille wash mitt or a chenille covered sponge.
Always make sure to use a good quality automotive shampoo/wash and definitely NOT dish soap. I hear people brag about getting a gallon of soap at the local parts store for 2 bucks and it “Cleans the car just as good as anything else…” I have used that soap in the past, before I knew better, and found that it does not offer enough lubrication and has harsh cleaners that will strip the wax off of the paint and leave your car unprotected. So don’t skimp on your car wash solution.
A lot of people use the “two bucket method” of washing. This is when they use two buckets. One bucket filled with water and car shampoo and the other filled with just water. Use the car shampoo bucket to dip your wash mitt into and the water bucket to rinse the mitt out in. Simply dip the wash mitt into the shampoo bucket, making sure the mitt is fully soaked, and wash a panel of the car. When you need more shampoo on the mitt, rinse it out in the water bucket first, before dipping it back into the shampoo bucket. It is also highly recommended that you use a Grit Guard Insert in your buckets. The Grit Guard keeps the wash mitt out of the dirt that settles to the bottom of the bucket.
Something that is often overlooked is the hose nozzle you use. Use a hose nozzle that has a rubber protector around it incase you accidentally smack it against your paint. You want your nozzle to have the option to give you multiple spray patterns as well.
For the initial hose down of your vehicle you might want to consider using a Foam Gun. The Foam Gun will create a nice foamy lather on your vehicle before you start washing. Simply add your favorite car shampoo into the foam gun and spray down the entire car or the panel you are working on. By using the Foam Gun you are creating a nice layer of foam on your vehicle. This foam helps to lift dirt away from your paint and acts as a lubricated layer. Having the dirt lifted away from the paint, and having a nice lubricated surface to start with, helps reduce the amount of marring and scratching that occurs when washing.
Proper Washing Procedure:
Before you wash the exterior surfaces of the car always clean the tires and wheels first. See our Proper Care For Your Wheels and Tires Section. Cleaning the tires and wheels first prevents you from getting tire and wheel cleaner all over your freshly washed car.
Be sure when washing the vehicle you start from the top and work your way down. This procedure keeps your from cleaning a lower panel and then rinsing dirty water onto it when cleaning a higher panel. Using the foam gun cover the roof of the vehicle in a nice foamy lather. Always start at the top of the car using your mitt in a back and forth motion across the paint, not in a circular motion. Make sure that you keep your wash mitt clean and soapy at all times. Once the roof is done rinse it off using a gentle spray. Next, move down and foam the windows and wash them in the same manor as the roof. Rinse the windows off using a gentle spray. Complete the same steps and work down the vehicle until the entire vehicle is cleaned. Once the car has been washed use a steady stream of water from your nozzle or hose and rinse your vehicle off again using no pressure. Start at the top of the vehicle and let the water run over the top and down the car. Continue this step for the entire vehicle. Most of the water will sheath right off of the paint making drying the vehicle easier.
Now it’s time to dry the vehicle. To avoid scratches I recommend using a good quality Waffle Weave Drying Towel. Just like when you washed the vehicle, start at the top and work your way down. I fold the waffle weave in quarters flipping it over to a dry side often. If it gets too wet and is not doing as good of a job of drying, simply grab a dry, clean waffle weave drying towel and continue. If you have water left in nooks and crannies use a Metro Vac N’ Blo or Air Force Blaster to blow the stubborn water out. Once the car is cleaned and dried now it is time to protect the tires (see our Proper Care For Your Wheels and Tires Section ). After you put protectant on the tires then you can go ahead and clean the windows (see our Streak Free Glass Cleaning Section ).
