Automatic car washes are convenient at times, but there are some risks, such as scratching from the equipment and materials they use. Instead, consider hand washing your vehicle at home so that you can avoid scratches. Read on for some tips on hand washing your car at home.
Collect Your Supplies
Before you drag the car out to wash it, gather all your tools and supplies so that everything is right next to you and the vehicle when it’s time to clean. Below is a list of must-have cleaning supplies:
- Microfiber towels
- Car soap
- Two buckets
- Hose
- Glass cleaner
- Tire scrubber
Make sure your microfiber towels are clean and damage-free, and avoid car sponges, as they can scratch your car. Taking care of your microfiber towels will allow them to last for years. That’s helpful for car care since they are the safest way to scrub your vehicles.
Here are a few extras to have on hand if you want to get some serious detailing done:
- Car wax
- Vacuum with a hose
- Glass cleaner
Steps To Wash the Car
Once you gather everything, set up your car by parking it in a shady spot. The shade will keep the water and soap from evaporating too quickly. Next, fill each bucket, one with clear water for rinsing your microfiber towels and the other with soapy water. Finally, wash your car in the following order:
- Soak it with water from the hose.
- Scrub the tires and wheels.
- Wash the body, alternating between dipping the towel in soapy water and then clean water as it gets dirty.
- Rinse everything with clear water.
- Dry the car with a microfiber towel.
Now your car looks amazing! You can stop there and have a happy ride, but if you prefer a vehicle that looks good inside and out, add these three extra steps:
- Clean the inside and outside of the windshield with glass cleaner.
- Vacuum out the car.
- Wax the car.
If you follow all these tips for hand washing your car at home, you’ll never want to pull into an automatic car wash again.
