Top Car Cleaning Mistakes : Tips & Tricks

Hi people, AD's here. Today am gonna point out a few mistakes people usually make while cleaning their car. They not only worsens your cars paint job but also puts a cross mark on your hour long effort to make it look clean. So please read this. I have learnt from experience and I don't want you to do those mistakes.

1. Swirl marks : You have just cleaned your car. In the shade it's looking awesome. You are too happy and want to drive it round the city. But wait, as soon as it comes under direct sunlight or direct lamp light, your car becomes an eyesore. You can see a bunch of circular patches, some fine circular patches on the paint job. Go and feel them. You can't. Because, they are not any scratches. They are something worse : Swirl Marks. Ok, so here am not actually gonna tell you how to remove the swirl marks. I have a separate blog for that. But what am gonna tell you today is how are those marks built up on your car and how to prevent those.

    First of all, people usually make circular motions while washing their car. And I think you too, otherwise swirl marks would not have built up. What swirl marks are? Actually it's a very fine scratch on your clear coat. It's not much deep so you can't feel it but they are actually present and makes your car look old and worse. 

So, always wash or dust off your car in a straight line. Never make any circular motions. Circular motions invite swirls. Take a microfibre cloth and do straight lines from back to front or front to back. But never make any circular motions.

2. Cloth : I have seen people using old rags or clothes they have been wearing since last 10 years for cleaning their car. Never do that. Don't even use a paper towel. The only thing that should touch your cars body is a 100% terry towel or soft microfibre towel. 

* Extra Tip : Remember to tear off the label on cloth. The label works as a really great scratching agent. :P

3. Car Shampoo :  People often use a hair shampoo, dress cleaners or kitchen utensils cleaner fluids for cleaning their vehicles. Never use them, the unbalanced pH level and Harsh Chemicals present can damage the paintjob eventually. Only use a High Foam Formula Car-Wash which has labelled "Clear-coat Safe" on it. Some of the recommended brands are : 3M, Meguiars, Turtle, Formula 1, Bullsone.

Otherwise, just a household DIY : Diluted hand wash mixed with a little amount of borax can substitute this really well.

4. Drying : After washing your car, take two microfibre towels. Wipe off the water with one towel and use the other towel to give a final wipe. Wipe off in a straight line, preferably, front to back or back to front. 

*Extra Tip : Start from the top and gradually move down, to dry the car neatly. Law of Gravitation :P

Moreover, don't apply too much of pressure. Use a light hand and let the microfibre towel perform its wonders.

5. Bird Poop : Bird Poop on a neat and clean car is not only an eyesore but also shoves us down the ass. But, never just remove it with a wet towel. Spray some lubricant over it and wipe off with a microfibre towel. It will come right off. See below to know what lubricant you shall use.

6. Lubricant : Take a spray bottle pour a few drops of your car wash gel or liquid. Dilute it with water and mix it well. It's the best lubricant ever. Don't use quick detailers. They are really greasy and will damage your fresh wax layer.

7. Sunlight or Sunshade : We need a well lit area to wash our car. But direct sunlight is not at all what we want. Direct sunlight heats up the car faster and makes the water evaporate real quick leaving water marks on your car. So the best time to wash your car is in the afternoon, when it is well lit, a little warm but, no direct sunlight.

8. Water-Wash : Never just wash your car with water only. Use a car shampoo. First, give your car a  touch less wash with water, through a hose pipe. Then spray lubricant on it and then wash with shampoo-water and rinse off with water. Then dry your car as I said before. Also, start off with the upper half of your car and then move to the lower half. Lower half is usually more dirty. 

9. Other Tips : People often drop their towel on the ground, pick it up and start off again. Never ever do that. Once the towel touches the ground, discard it for the wash. Use another towel for then. 

Even, use two separate buckets. One which contains the fresh shampoo-water and another is rinse bucket. Each time you wipe your car, rinse it in the rinse bucket and then dip it in shampoo water and continue washing.

After washing, kindly wax your car to get the maximum protection possible. 

This much today, will come back again with another interesting topic. Signing off for now. Bye.

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