Car paint is prone to bird droppings, scratches, and many other dirt particles that can ruin the paint’s shiny finish. It’s understandable that in the modern world, where almost everyone has a hectic schedule, car owners don’t have much time for doing the car washing by themselves. That is why most of them prefer car wash, car paint booth, and other car paint services to take care of their vehicle’s finish.
However, if you’re one of those car owners who allot time in cleaning and washing your own car, you must know the proper way to do it. Here is a guide on how to take care of your car paint properly.
Step 1: Wash the car
When car washing, you will need to prepare the following materials: a bucket, car wash solution, a soft-bristled brush, a microfiber towel or mitt, and a water hose.
Start the washing process from the car roof, then work your way down to the car’s bottom. Using a soft-bristled brush, remove more stubborn grease and stains in a circular motion. Then, clean the less dirty areas using the microfiber towel.
An important note is to not use laundry soap, regular dish soap, and other similar household cleaners as a substitute to car wash solution. They can damage the car’s finish and strip away the protective wax coating of the vehicle.
Rinse your car right after you finish cleaning it with the car wash solution. Doing this will prevent the water and soap from drying on the paint, causing hard-to-remove water spots.
Wash your car regularly to keep it free of gritty residue, dirt, and debris that accumulated over time.
Step 2: Dry the car
For this step, you will need a microfiber towel. Using the cloth, dry the car thoroughly after washing it to prevent water spots from building up. It will help give your vehicle a clean, shiny finish after the detailing and waxing method later.
Before you proceed to the next step, let your vehicle air-dry after you finish removing most of the moisture.
Step 3: Detail the car
In this method, you will need the following items based on their necessity
- Clay bar – lifts the dirt from the car’s surface and smoothens it.
- Glaze – removes swirl marks and levels the surface
- Compound – removes contaminants and swirl marks from the car’s surface
- Polish – a non-abrasive car paint cleaner
- Microfiber towel – used to apply the detailing mixture to the car’s finish
After thoroughly washing and drying the car, detail it. It will give make sure that your car’s finish is sparkling clean before you wax it. Take note that you need to make sure you read and understand the different detailing method before you use it, or else you will only damage your car’s finish.
Step 4: Wax your car
Take note that this method is not required each time you wash your vehicle. You will only reapply wax coating if you use a detailing process that removes the wax.
Here, you will need a car wax and a microfiber towel. You can also utilize a paint conditioner as an added car paint protection. Use the microfiber towel to apply the wax evenly on the entire surface of the vehicle. Let it set in. Then, use the microfiber cloth to rub the box in a circular motion. Repeat the process until the entire surface has been waxed.
By doing the steps explained above, you can manage to maintain your vehicle’s paint and aesthetic appeal. Your car can look brand new that you can show off.