Car wash - Tips for Optimal Maintenance of your Vehicle!
Owning a vehicle doesn't just mean getting from point A to point B easily. An automobile must be maintained and cleaned. Owning a car therefore also means cleaning it, from the inside and the outside. A vehicle can be washed by hand or at the car wash. So we give you car wash tips and tricks.
Car Wash by Hand vs Car Wash at the Car Wash:
We do not want to get into the controversy waged by many car owners, over what would be most effective between cleaning their vehicle by hand or at the car wash. It is certain that errors can occur in both cases, and can in particular damage the car. When it comes to hand cleaning, you have to take into account that you can't do it everywhere.
Car Wash by Hand:
Choosing the right tools and products is crucial. The car shampoo should be a greasy cleaner. Also, do not choose household products, such as oven cleaners to the detriment of rim cleaners. Some oven cleaners contain substances, which can cause chemical reactions when in contact with aluminum, and this can cause lasting damage. The following means and cleaning products will be useful for washing cars:
- A foam sponge
- A microfiber cloth
- Chamois leather
- Shampoo for greasy cars
- A rim cleaner
- Suitable polish
You can obviously wash your car with a sponge and a bucket. The best is to get a Karcher and at least a pipe. The dose of Karcher to use will be recommended by the producer, respect it so as not to flake off the paint.
Wash from Top to Bottom:
The vehicle should always be washed from top to bottom. First, rinse it off. Get rid of as much dirt as possible, like sand. The grains of sand under the sponge has the same effect as sandpaper: they scratch the lacquer. Thus, during the first rinse, move the sponge simultaneously with the water jet, during its second pass. You can deduce that a bucket is not enough, since on the one hand, the sponge will be passed with little water, and on the other hand the dust will accumulate in the bucket.
Pre-Cleaning to Remove Paint and Rims from Dust:
First, clean your car with a pressure washer or garden hose from top to bottom without using a sponge. Above all, pass in the area between the bumper and the sheet metal, on the covering and on the rear windows with a jet of steam or a pipe. The rims must also be thoroughly cleaned beforehand. A lot of dirt from the street and brake dust will, therefore, be rinsed off. There are two steps left. Apply the car shampoo and let it work. Meanwhile, spray the rims with rim cleaner and let it work too.
Wash with Car Shampoo then Rinse:
After leaving to act, rub the shampoo by gently pressing and making circular movements. Shortly after, wash with water and a sponge from top to bottom. Change the water in your bucket regularly. The deeper you clean, the more dust and sand particles you remove. Then rinse the car thoroughly with clean water. Completion can only start with a chamois cloth.
Clean the Gaps in the Door Jambs:
Then clean the interstices of the door jambs and their interiors when they are closed. Also, carefully clean the edges of the trunk, since a lot of dust and sand particles accumulate there.
Protect the Paintwork with a Sealer or Car Wax:
Vitrification of the paint is only recommended when it is dry. Now you can use different products; from natural wax to nano chemical treatment. Depending on the product used, the paint will be protected for a few weeks to six months. We cannot study the different waxes and the different sealers since there is a very wide choice, and they differ greatly in terms of price and efficiency.
Clean the Windows - Literally Clear Windows with no Traces of Grease:
It is now the turn of the windows. Most window products will leave marks. All you need is a glass cleaner and lots of newsprints. Spray the window cleaner on each window. Then crumple up the newspaper and spread out while rubbing the product with it, making circular movements. Newsprint disperses the product, permeates and absorbs it. When it begins to disintegrate or become soaked, change it. To wipe, also take a new paper. You will see that your windows will be free of all traces. It is necessary to use newsprint, another paper would not be suitable.
Car Wash at the Car Wash:
Even if you have your car cleaned at a car wash, pre-cleaning is essential. No matter how the automatic washing takes place, sand and dust particles will damage your car. You are spoiled for choice at the car wash. Automobile clubs have highly rated installations of foam materials. Foam materials spare the surface of the body. On the other hand, they were more critical on the plastic rollers, which whip the paint. Before the automatic washing, the antennas must be retracted and dismantled. Position the wipers up so that they are aligned longitudinally with the vehicle.
Vehicle Interior Cleaning:
After cleaning the exterior of the vehicle, the interior must be cleaned. Use specialized leather products to clean all leather equipment. There is a known phrase about leather: leather lives. Thus, he must be able to breathe and remain smooth. It must, therefore, be treated with leather grease. The plastic frameworks must then be treated with a suitable plastic product. These products must come from an established producer if you want to be sure of the effectiveness of the protection. Why would unknown producer care about the state of your dashboard after a few years.
