Many car owners like to wash their car every week, but not many of them think about how to do it correctly. This circumstance is connected with the fact that usually in this case they try to use waste materials and means that are at hand to remove contaminants. As a result, the quality of washing a car with their help leaves much to be desired; in addition, there is a high risk of damage to the paint layer applied to the car body. To prevent this from happening, a special car washing brush should be used to perform the described procedure.
Types of pollution
To be able to remove any layer of dirt on the car body, you need to know what type of dirt is present in a particular case. Such knowledge is necessary, first of all, in order not to damage the coating of the car when washing it. For the same purpose, they use car shampoo, which cleans it on the outside, as well as a stain remover, which removes dirt from the inside.
As for the types of contaminants covering the body, there are two types:
- organic. These are waste products of various organisms. These include fat, traces of bird and animal feces, remains of fruits and plant leaves.
- inorganic. These include dirt, dust, and small stones.
In some cases, different types of contaminants may be mixed or cover the car body in different layers. Naturally, in this case it is necessary to select individually for each type of contaminant the appropriate methods and means for their removal. If you use improvised means, you will not be able to remove dirt, since the same fat will not be lost with plain water.
How to properly clean glass from the inside:
- For the procedure, it is better to choose non-sunny weather - in the sun the product will dry quickly, leaving streaks.
- In cold weather, remove only that dirt from the glass that interferes with your view, and it is better to carry out full cleaning at above-zero temperatures.
- Before cleaning, wipe the glass with a dry cloth to remove dust.
- It is better to cover the dashboard with newspaper to prevent product and dirt from getting on it.
- The cleaner is applied not to a rag or newspaper, but to the glass, and then rubbed and polished.
- Use a new piece of cloth to clean each area of glass, and after cleaning, use a new microfiber cloth only on the body, not on the glass again.
- After cleaning the glass, it is recommended to rub it until dry from the inside with shaving foam or fabric softener with a surfactant in the composition: plaque will not appear for 2-3 months.
- To prevent condensation from collecting so much, ventilate the interior regularly, especially in winter before parking.
- If, despite your efforts, stains and deposits on the glass appear every 2-3 weeks, and there is no smoking in the cabin, check the serviceability of the air conditioning and ventilation system and replace the cabin air filter
- Remember that no amount of cleaning will help restore glass that has been frosted with scratches and yellowed over the years. You need to replace glass at a service center not when it breaks, but when the time comes.
Find out what else will help make driving more comfortable in our article “Three steps to improve visibility in a car.”
How can you wash a car?
There are several options for choosing products intended for washing the car body. All such products ensure safety for covering its elements during washing, and are also distinguished by better treatment with detergents. Among the most common means for cleaning and washing a car are:
- sponges;
- rags;
- brushes.
In addition, various combined tools are produced, for example, a mop combined with an ice and snow scraper. Car wash brushes and other tools used for car washing must be treated with care to those parts that are cleaned or washed with their help. In addition, once the surfaces have been washed, they should not scratch, for example, in case of accidental contact with the car body.
Cabin cleaning
- Wash all the mats; all the dust that the driver breathes accumulates on them. In order to destroy all dust particles, you need to wet them well and fill them with detergent, but you can get by with regular powder. Then leave the rugs for a few minutes, rinse them again and hang them to dry.
- Wipe dust from the instrument panel, doors and other elements where it tends to settle.
- Wash the thresholds. After this, you can start vacuuming. In this case, you need to pay special attention to the seats, because a large number of crumbs and other small particles can accumulate there, especially if children are periodically in the car.
- Clean the windows with a special cleaner. But you should immediately warn that you do not need any rags for this; it is best to use ordinary toilet paper or newspaper. The steps are simple: spray the product on the glass and rub it with paper, that’s the whole trick.
At this stage, washing the car has come to its logical conclusion.
Below you can watch a video on how to properly wash your car.
Sponges
In the case when a car owner washes a car by hand, the best option for choosing a car accessory for him will be a car washing sponge. The fact is that it does not damage the paintwork upon contact with it, as a brush does. Typically, sponges for washing cars are made of large-pored foam rubber. It perfectly absorbs moisture, as well as car shampoos, which allows you to thoroughly wash off dirt of any type and degree of complexity.
It is worth mentioning separately about such a car accessory as a melamine sponge. The fact is that it was specially designed to combat organic pollution. For example, a melamine sponge can be used to successfully remove traces of fat or waste products of birds and animals.
How often should you wash your car?
Experienced motorists understand that the car body suffers from frequent exposure to strong pressure of water and auto chemicals (although manufacturers assure that detergents for paint surfaces are safe).
On the question of how often a car should be washed in the warm season, each owner must decide for himself. You should not drive a dirty car and be afraid of metal corrosion due to the use of auto chemicals. In the end, during operation, small dents from road stones and scratches still appear on the car. Dried dirt eats into the surface and also damages the coating.
On the question of how often to wash a car in the cold season, everyone must decide for themselves, depending on the circumstances. You should not do this if it is less than -10 degrees Celsius outside. A wet body in the cold can freeze and the paintwork can crack. In addition, there is no point in washing your car while the snow is melting, since it will become dirty again in a short period of time.
Any self-respecting driver should try to drive a clean car: it’s not without reason that they say that a car is the face of its owner. The cleanliness of the vehicle will determine how people perceive it.
Car wash brushes
In the same case, when the issue of saving car shampoos is important for the car owner, or in the case when there is persistent dirt on the hood of the car, he should wash the car with a brush. With it, provided there are hard bristles, you can wash even wheels and rims that bear traces of asphalt and tar.
If it is necessary to wash and clean the interior, a rubber brush is used, but it should not be used to wash body parts. The fact is that such a brush can scratch the car’s paintwork with grains of sand or dirt adhering to it. Here it is better to use a different type of brush or sponge.
To wash the body, it is best to use a brush with a telescopic handle, which allows you to reach parts that are located in the most difficult to reach places. Such a water supply device can often be found in car washes. In any case, you need to take a soft, fluffy brush, and not a hard one with a solid structure. It is impossible to damage even a thin layer of paint or varnish with such a product.
Brushes with a water supply can not only mechanically remove dirt, but also wash it away and soften it before removal. The pressure can be adjusted as needed. As a result, you can almost perfectly wash not only smooth, but also corrugated surfaces.
Taking care of your coverage
At first glance, there is nothing easier than washing a car at home: take a rag, a bucket of water - and go! But it's not that simple.
First, the body must be cleaned of dust and dirt. The best way to do this is to hose down the car with strong water pressure. If this is not done, small particles will remain on the body, which will scratch the surface during the washing process.
In addition, when servicing a car, it is necessary to wash not only the body, but also the bottom, suspension and engine, since the chemicals that are sprinkled on the roads eat into metal parts and destroy them. However, the process of washing these parts is labor-intensive, so it is better to wash them at a car wash.
Useful tips
Automakers, as well as companies specializing in providing car wash services, have developed a list of tips that allow you to wash your car quickly and efficiently. So, if a sponge is used for washing, it must be rinsed frequently, since a large amount of water allows abrasive materials to be washed out of it. As a result, the enamel that tears the car body will not be damaged.
Another important tip is to never use improvised products to wash your car. Use only high-quality materials and specialized shampoos. Handy rags, washing powder and dishwashing liquid can damage the paint and also leave difficult-to-remove stains on the enamel.
A car washing brush cannot be used to remove snow from the surface of the glass, as well as the hood or body. It is imperative to use a special brush. It has specially split ends that will allow you to sweep away snow without scratching your car. Glass is cleared of ice and snow using scrapers with rubber or foam padding.
Separately, it is worth noting the need to wash the wheels while washing the car. A lot of dirt accumulates on their inside, which becomes compacted over time and upsets the balance with its weight. In general, the washing procedure must be carried out once a week in order for the car to be perfectly clean.
How to maintain the appearance of a car
Knowing how to wash a black car without streaks, you can clean the body according to your needs. But the question arises - how to maintain the appearance for as long as possible. We must not forget that paintwork tends to deteriorate; scratches periodically appear on it, which can be very deep. As a result, corrosion develops. In addition, the paint of a black car will fade over time, even if it is washed regularly and without streaks.
One of the methods of protection is the use of a special film that protects against scratches, sharp objects, mechanical shocks, crushed stone, sand and other negative influences. Most often it is applied to the front bumper, hood, part of the door around the lock, front and rear fenders or headlights. You can wash it regularly and not worry about the condition of the surface.
Additionally, it is worth treating the underbody of the car with special agents that protect against corrosion. To do this, it is necessary to periodically inspect the car, identify and localize areas of rust. You also need to treat areas of the car that are not covered with paintwork.
Another way to protect a black car is to apply a nanocoating. Such compositions reliably protect the body from damage, provide easier maintenance and a decorative effect. If necessary, washing a treated car without streaks is much easier. The service life of such coating is about two years.
Now you know how to properly wash a black car without streaks, what is needed for this, and what products may be useful to get the job done. In the comments, tell us whether the recommendations given were useful to you and what secrets you use.
