DIY Car Wash | Tips for Car Washing
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How to Wash a Car Without a Hose
You may be wondering how to wash your car at home if you don’t have a hose. Some people don’t have a garage and a garden spigot to hook up a hose. There are many products on the market called waterless car washes. Although these are not really like washing your car with soap and water, they can be the way to keep your vehicle clean for good after going through an automatic car wash.
A waterless car wash is a lubricious mix of natural or chemical products that are used by auto detailers to save as much as 20 to 50 gallons of water per wash. They are ideal for cases between washings with water when you have a light build-up of dirt that you could just as easily wipe clean with a simple microfiber or terry cloth.
There are now a large variety of these products on the market to the point of it being difficult to classify the various types. Some contain silicone polymers that may be marketed as protectants which protect the deep layers of the paint surface. However, if you don’t keep on using the product regularly, they can embed in the surface and dry out or dull the paint if you try to wash them off with a regular car wash.
You might want to try experimenting with a waterless car wash on an old panel of a vehicle that is lying around or your junk car. These products are easy to use because they simply spray on and are wiped off in a simple swiping motion with a clean cloth. The secret to success is using a cloth that is folded over many times and changing the surface as the area builds up excess grime. You may also want to dust out any large particles of debris from the cloth every so many swipes.
As said, some of these products contain polymers that protect the paint and repel water or Carnauba wax, the type of wax traditionally applied to vehicles for that warm candy-coated glow. The beauty of some waterless car wash products is that they can be used for a dual purpose of repelling water and preventing rust on undercarriage and exhaust parts. Because the silicone versions withstand heat, you can even use them to coat exhaust parts every few months as an additional layer of protection.
Waterless car washes can also be used to protect rubber parts of your vehicle and vinyl. You can even apply them to the windows and create a water beading effect. Of course, you want to choose the correct products that assure you that they have been adequately tested for these purposes.
It is said that the waterless car washes bring out the natural glow of materials rather than coating them in a glaring wax. Yet, they do look bright or weathered, depending on the material. If you want to wash your vehicle with ease and forget about the laborious waxing and scrubbing, a waterless car wash can help you repel dirt, water penetration of your paint that leads to oxidation and even protect your paint from dulling UV rays.
Does it sound too good to be true? Obviously, science had come up with something better than a wax extracted from Brazilian palm tree leaves in the last century. You can try the waterless car wash on some areas that build up a lot of grime under your fender flares, on wheels to repel brake dust, and even on parts underneath your vehicle to see how they are affected before moving on to a full-time car method.
Finding a brand that you love and knowing what the long-term effects may be is a good method of experimenting in this new field of polymers and sealants. If you look up independent online reviews of other popular sealants that are sometimes called waterless car washes, you may be pleased when you also try the results. It is a good idea to also look at the bad reviews and anticipate what you can expect in the worst case scenario.
Best Way to Clean Your Car
Now that you know all about the experimental methods out there, we can teach you how to properly wash your car with regular old soap and water. There are a few things that you should consider before you do the wash, however.
If you already have a hard wax down, you should only use a very gentle and mild soap. If you are looking to lay down a fresh coat of Carnauba wax, you should go with some good old fashioned dishwashing soap to strip that metal clean. Use a special pH-balanced automotive soap or a gentle moisturizing facial soap that only creates a little bit of soapy residue to whisk away the outer dirt surfaces without getting too aggressive.
Step #1: The Two Bucket Method
Fill up two 5-gallon buckets: one with a mixture of warm water and soap and another with just plain warm water. It helps if you can get an agitator to put at the side and bottom of the rinse bucket to clean out your wash mitt as you are picking up grime.
Step #2: Rinse–Off the Heavy Dirt
There is no sense in rubbing dirt into your paint finish and scratching up the delicate surface. It is better to use your hose to spray most of the heavy stuff free before you get to work with the wash mitt. Don’t be afraid to blast that dirt off there if it is stubborn. The water has better lifting ability than anything else you may use to remove caked on dirt.
Step #3: Wash from Top to Bottom
You should always start by soaking your wash mitt to get it saturated with soap and start on the roof. Start with the areas that have less chance of being soiled: the roof, windows, hood, trunk, sides, front fascia, and rear end.
Agitate and soak the wash mitt in the bucket of rinse water and hose it off before soaking it again in the wash bucket. You will have to repeat this step between each section of the car that you clean. And always use a swiping motion to avoid swirling the picked up dirt particles into the paint.
Step #5: Brush Your Wheel Areas
Use a separate detailing brush to clean the wheel wells, wheels, and tires. You may need to use fine brillo to remove brake dust build up on the wheels.
Step #6: Finish the Job
Wipe the vehicle clean with a clean microfiber cloth that was never used for any other purpose other than drying your car. You can then apply whatever wax or sealant you choose.
How to Wash Your Car in the Winter
If you are wondering how to wash your car in the winter when your hoses are rolled up and your spigots are frozen with an icicle hanging down to the pavement, we suggest using the waterless car wash, washing it in a heated garage with buckets of warm water to rinse, or going to an automotive detailer.
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