Washing your car is an important aspect of owning a vehicle. How well you carry out the task can determine how much and how often you spend on maintenance. Contrary to what some people might think, washing your car can be a very simple task, particularly with the many quality products available.
You can get excellent results without ever patronising a car wash. However, you can easily end up with messy results that leave irritating spots, streaks, and marks. It all depends on the accuracy of the information that guides your washing process. We at RapidClean want you to get the best possible results, so read below common mistakes to avoid while washing your car.
1. WASHING YOUR CAR UNDER DIRECT SUNLIGHT
You are probably reading this and thinking this can’t be right. Well, it is. While it’s understandable that you feel the temptation to clean your car during the hours the sun is at its hottest and brightest, it is for this very reason that you shouldn’t. Under sunlight, water will evaporate faster than you can wipe it off, leaving watermarks on your car’s body. The foam from the soap could also dry out before you have the chance to rinse it off, which causes spots you do not want.
The solution is simple; wait till the cooler hours of the day before you clean your car. You want to target sunrise or sunset, especially during summer when the sun is at its meanest. You also want to keep your vehicle out of the direct sunlight as much as possible; if there is any provision for you to do the cleaning under shaded cover, that’s where you want to be.
2. USING KITCHEN SOAP OR HOME-BASED DETERGENT
This may feel easy and convenient, or you could be thinking using kitchen soap or detergent is perfectly harmless. Regardless of your reason, ignore the urge to do this.
An essential part of car maintenance is using the right cleaning supplies because they are specifically built for that purpose. Kitchen soap and the likes aren’t, so they will eat into your car’s wax and paint with repeated use.
RapidClean has a great range of automotive cleaning detergents specially formulated to get the dirt off and keep paint on. Take advantage of our great products to give your car the gentle cleanse it deserves.
3. USING ONLY ONE BUCKET TO WASH AND RINSE
This is another common mistake people make when washing their vehicles. The best approach is to use one for soap and the other for water. This allows you to rinse your washcloth in clean water frequently, reducing the chances of scratching your paintwork with grit and dirt.
4. WASHING IN THE WRONG ORDER
Here’s a fact that shouldn’t be a secret but somehow is: the order you wash your car matters. It matters almost as much as the cleaning supplies you use. And what is the right order? Cleaning the tires first and the body last.
The simple reason is that your car tire is the dirtiest part, and when you wash it last, you get sand and mud onto the car paint you’ve already cleaned. Instead of working against yourself, wash the tires first. Then rinse the car with water to get the dirt that splashes on the paint out, so you don’t leave scratches when you wash the body.
When you are done washing and it’s time to wipe the car down, the opposite order precedes, although the reasoning stays the same. Clean from top to bottom so you avoid the transfer of dirt from the tires and rims back onto the body.
5. USING OLD TOWELS OR SHIRTS TO WASH YOUR CAR
The only reason you should do this is if you do not care about your car. If that’s not the case, then this is just a bad idea. It leaves your paint job vulnerable to scratches and streaks because the material is just too rough for your car. Remember that choice of cleaning supplies can make all the difference. You want to use a soft material with high absorbent quality. RapidClean sells perforated Polyvinyl Alcohol cloths that provide the delicate touch your automobile deserves.
6. USING WAY TOO MUCH WAX
Waxing your car to provide that extra layer of protection is a smart move, but only when done right. Most people feel the need to be overly generous with car wax, but it is not necessary. Also, it could be bad news for your paint in the long run.
A thin layer of wax will provide all the protection your car requires. And if it’s just too much trouble finding the right balance, the Rapid Clean Auto Wash and Wax formulation solves that problem for you. It has a soap and wax mix in the right proportion for a scratch-free, high shine finish.
7. CLEANING BIRD POOP WITHOUT LUBRICATION
Yes, bird poop is irritating, and you just want to scrape it off at first sight; we get it. However, there is a proper method of getting it off, and it involves lubrication. Bird poop is highly acidic, so it will eat into the paint when it dries. Spray on some lubricant or drench the washcloth in water, and hold over the poo stain for a while till it dissolves.
Conclusion
Keeping your car shiny and stainless can be an easy job. All it takes is the right clean supplies and proper washing techniques. Be sure to avoid the seven common mistakes listed above from now on. And for your cleaning supplies, contact us at RapidClean to get our top-of-the-line automotive cleaning products.
