A car that shines with cleanliness pleases the heart of its owner and attracts the attention of passers-by. The shine of the paintwork, the richness of its color, the features of the car's exterior and the designers' ideas - all this looks much more attractive than when it is covered with a layer of dust and dirt. However, there is a small problem: many car enthusiasts complain that after washing, cloudy spots and streaks remain on the body and windows. In this article, we will share with you secrets that will teach you how to wash your car correctly - without streaks and stains - with your own hands. If you have a Karcher, then here is a detailed description of how to properly wash your car with it.
A clean and shiny car is always pleasing to the eye.
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.
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.
Selecting a detergent
To wash your car, you must use only auto chemicals. Acids and alkalis contained in regular soaps or cleaning fluids can damage the surface of the body. To remove old stains, there are special products that are used before applying a soap solution. Experts advise using shampoo no more than two to three times a month.
Car shampoo can be:
- dry;
- liquid.
For liquid products, the bottle label always indicates in what proportion to dilute the shampoo. The engine is treated with white spirit.
How to wash a car without water and is it possible?
If you use traditional shampoos and standard cleaning methods, it is not advisable to save on water. A striking example of this are car washers who offer their services at traffic lights and in traffic jams. It seems like it’s great to quickly get your car in order, but with a small amount of water, young people, before wiping off the dirt, smear it over the body, scratching it. The results of several such washes will be visible to the naked eye. Therefore, if you find yourself in a situation where there are no other options but to wash your car without water, don’t worry - there are special shampoos that do not require an ounce of additional moisture.
The substance applied to the surface quickly dilutes the dirt, after which this specialized shampoo is washed off with a microfiber cloth. Movements should be made in one direction, for example, on the hood - from the glass to the bumper, on the roof - from the middle to the edges. It is extremely undesirable to make circular movements with a rag, since this will smear the dirt rather than remove it. One wash usually takes 5th of the bottle; in addition, you need several napkins, since after one gets dirty, it’s better to take another, clean one. Microfiber should be washed in an automatic machine with a gentle spin.
Car washing rules
After everything has been decided with the detergent, the car owner is faced with another, no less important choice: what is better to wash the car, with a sponge or a brush. Experts have a clear answer to this question:
- foam sponge - for the body;
- brush - for wheels.
The water in the bucket should not be hot, but slightly warm. To properly wash a car by hand, you need to start from the roof, moving towards the wheels. In this case, you first need to walk with an unwrung sponge with shampoo, and then with a wrung out sponge without shampoo. The interior parts of the doors and hood and the floor mats are also washed.
After generously rinsing the body with clean water, it is better to collect the remaining drops with a special scoop, so that later it is easier to remove the moisture with a household rag. You can wash your car without streaks with a waffle towel or a piece of suede. You just need to rub the surface of the body with them. After washing, it is recommended to drive the car to dry all surfaces of the body.
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.
Glass and dashboards in the cabin
First you need to buy a special glass cleaner and car wet wipes.
Next, you should act in accordance with the instructions indicated on the detergent label. Spray the product onto glass and mirrors, and then wipe the surfaces with a dry cloth in a circular motion, making sure there are no streaks. You can often see that car owners wash their windows with plain water. This method has some disadvantages: firstly, stubborn dirt cannot be easily washed off with water, and secondly, there is a high probability of leaving stains.
It is recommended to use a damp cloth to clean plastic interior surfaces. In hard-to-reach places, you can use a stick by putting a napkin on its end. It is better to wipe large surfaces with rotational movements.
Lifehacks
When a car shines with cleanliness, it pleases not only its owner, but also everyone around him. Clean windows without streaks and dust are the dream of every motorist. But how to wash your car without leaving streaks on it? In fact, this is not an easy task, especially in the spring and autumn.
From this article you will learn the rules that will allow you to wash your car quickly and without streaks.
Content
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1 Wash the car yourself
2 Select a place to wash your car
3 Choosing detergents
4 How to wash a car: main secrets and rules
5 Related posts:
Wash your car yourself
Sometimes a motorist may have the thought: “Maybe I should wash my car at a car wash?” Of course you can, but why pay the extra money? You will be able to wash your car yourself in a short time.
Cons of car washes
- You have to wait your turn;
- After washing, not only stains, but also scratches may remain on the car;
- Usually, at a car wash, cars are washed “in a hurry,” so no one can guarantee you cleanliness;
- Material costs.
To avoid all of these problems, start washing your car yourself. You can easily learn how to wash your car so that it shines like new.
Choose a place to wash your car
First, you need to prepare the place where you will wash. If you choose the right place to wash, you will be guaranteed success. When exposed to the sun, water dries too quickly and may leave streaks on your car, so do not wash your car in direct sunlight. It is best to wash your car in a garage with good lighting.
We recommend: How to get rid of moisture in a car
Choosing detergents
- Water. If you want your car to be streak-free, use only filtered water if you are unsure of the quality of the water. Stains and white deposits can form due to poor water quality. Your car may develop an alkaline coating if the water is too hard. Therefore, the choice of water must be approached carefully. If you can wash your car with filtered water, you will definitely have fewer problems.
- Hose, buckets. It is convenient to water the car with a hose. But if you don't have a hose, you'll have to pour water into buckets. Try to change the water as often as possible.
- Detergents. It is better to buy a special product that is ideal for washing your car. You will also need a special glass cleaner. You should not use regular detergents or shampoos, as they may leave streaks on the car body.
- Important tools. To thoroughly wash your car, it is better to use the following tools: a large-pored sponge, a soft brush, clean car rags, a silicone scraper. Buy special microfiber cloths. They absorb water well and do not leave streaks on the car.
- Additional funds. You can try a special wax that is used after washing a car to polish the body. This wax protects your car from scratches, dirt and damage.
How to wash a car: main secrets and rules
You need to start washing the car when it has cooled down, then the liquid will not dry out too quickly.
- First, wet your car with water to loosen any dried-on chunks of dirt. Soaked dust and dirt are easily exposed to detergents. Also wet the mirrors, wheels, and body (if equipped) with water. If you have a hose, the initial stage will take a couple of minutes. If there is no hose, you can either pour 3-4 buckets of water on the car, or wet it with a sponge.
- Now you need to apply detergents. You can pour detergent into a spray bottle and spray your car with it. Alternatively, apply detergent using a sponge. Then wait a couple of minutes for the detergent to start working on the dirt.
- Now you can start washing your car. Use a large soft sponge for washing. Do not press the sponge too hard, otherwise scratches may remain on the car. Dirt must be washed off from top to bottom. The best way to wash wheels is with a brush. And don’t forget to pay attention to doorways, a lot of dirt and dust always accumulates in them.
- After you have washed off all the dirt, you need to start rinsing the car. First, wash off all the foam and dirt from the car. You can use a hose or water from buckets. Using a clean sponge soaked in clean water, go over the entire surface of the car again.
- Now you need to dry the car properly. It is better to use a silicone scraper or microfiber cloth for these purposes.
- Don't forget to wash the glass. It is better to use a special spray that is designed for cleaning glass. Apply the spray to the glass and wipe it with a dry cloth.
- At the final stage, you need to wipe the car again with a microfiber cloth. Some car owners use polish as the final step in car washing.
Even more interesting and useful life hacks on our Yandex Zen channel.
These recommendations will allow you to wash your car without streaks in a short period of time.
How do you usually wash your car? What do you usually do? So that there are no streaks left on the car?
Car glass care
It is unlikely that it will be possible to prevent dust from entering the interior. But you can reduce its adhesion to the windshield. The main condition for this is the absence of moisture that forms condensation. Therefore, it is useful to ventilate the interior before parking for a long time by opening all the doors. In winter, ventilation equalizes the temperature outside and inside, which reduces fogging of windows.
You can reduce windshield contamination by regularly wiping it with a sponge dipped in a mild soap solution. It will not remove severe dirt, but it will be useful as a preventive measure.
Occasionally it is necessary to treat the inside of the glass with anti-icing aerosols. If they are not there, wipe them with compounds containing glycerin or vinegar.
If moisture in the interior and fogging of the windows regularly occurs in a car with climate control, it means it is not working properly. It is necessary to replace filters or clean and reconfigure the entire air conditioning system.
Issues discussed in the material:
- How to wash a windshield inside and out during regular vehicle maintenance
- How to clean a car windshield in difficult situations
- How to remove paint and tree sap from a windshield
- How to wash your windshield without leaving streaks
Dirty car windows cause a lot of trouble for drivers. Dust and various stains impair visibility, which makes driving uncomfortable and dangerous. How to clean a windshield? The article talks about how to easily remove dirt from the surface of windows and not leave streaks.
