It doesn’t matter if you own a new or used car. Every car owner takes pride in their vehicle, and they want to keep it looking as good as possible.
They say that your car loses value as soon as you drive it off the lot, but if you keep your car running smoothly and looking great, you could help keep it nice enough to interest a potential buyer when you’re ready to sell.
Keeping your car clean can help boost your self-esteem and add a little resale value, so it’s a good idea to learn how to wash and wax a car.
It’s time to stop waiting for a rainstorm and spending money at a car wash. Once you read this post you’ll know everything you need to know to give your vehicle a professional wash and wax job.
How To Wash And Wax A Car The Right Way
People who know how to replace coolant and fix a tire may still be washing their cars the wrong way.
Learning the “proper” way to wash a car may seem trivial, but knowing the right way to do it could help save you from making some accidental damage to your car.
It doesn’t take long to learn how to wash and wax a car. If you follow these simple steps you’ll be a wash and wax expert in no time.
Avoid Using Household Products
Dishsoap and cleaning products can be helpful to use in your house, but they shouldn’t be used when you’re washing your car.
Go to your local auto store and find a product that’s dedicated to cleaning cars. These products are much milder than other traditional cleaners and are specifically designed to be used on automotive paint.
Use The Right Cloth
Don’t get an old rag or towel to wash your car. A regular cloth towel and rag are usually too abrasive for cars and could damage your paint over time or remove wax.
Instead, use a microfiber washing mitt or a mitt made of lamb’s wool. The microfiber and/or wool will easily remove dirt particles from paint instead of moving the dirt around and creating scratches.
Don’t Use The Sun as a Dryer
Most people wait for warm and sunny days to wash their cars so they’ll dry fast, but that could be doing more harm to your car than good.
Leaving your car in the harsh, hot sunlight can cause minerals in the water to leave spots on the paint’s finish once the water evaporates.
To dry your car the right way, use an absorbent waffle-weave microfiber drying towel.
Remove Spots Immediately
It’s recommended that people should wash their cars once a week to keep them looking nice. But if you notice something staining your car between washes, don’t wait to remove it.
Any expert in car detailing will tell you about some of the damage they see caused by people not taking care of stains immediately.
Taking a little time to wipe off a splattered bug or bird waste could mean the difference between having a simple car wash session or spending time scrubbing and damaging paint.
Don’t Over Wax
People that love having a shiny car may think that multiple waxing jobs can help keep their car looking great.
Waxing too often can create product build-up and could harm the paint over time. Try to limit your waxing sessions to once every 1-3 months.
Polish Away Problems Before Waxing
Waxing is great for temporarily covering up blemishes, but it can’t fix them.
Scratches, swirl marks, and water spots should be taken care of with an abrasive car polish before waxing. If you rely on wax to “fix” car problems, you’ll find yourself overwaxing to compensate.
Next Steps
Now that you know how to wash and wax a car, it’s time to dive into some other ways to maintain your car.
Knowing how to replace a windshield wiper can be helpful when you’re in a pinch. Read our guide on it so you can be prepared for any situation.
And remember, we have access to a lot of repair guides for a variety of cars. Browse our selection to find something that can help you.
