Squeaky Clean: The Dos and Don’ts of Car Washing

There’s nothing better than hitting the road with a clean and pristine-looking vehicle, ready to make an impression. While you could easily wait in line at an automatic car wash, sometimes it is good to put in the elbow grease and put in the work yourself.

When that time comes to clean your car, you need to know how to do that without causing damage. If you are ready to get scrubbing, follow these tips to ensure you are doing everything as you should.

Not Every Soap Works

If you were to ask anyone what type of soap you should use to wash your car, chances are they’ll say dish soap. It’s advice that has been passed down for years. But it’s surprisingly really bad advice! While dish soap cuts right through grease to leave your pans spotless, the chemicals in it can wear off your car’s wax and even damage the paint. Avoid this issue by only using car-specific soap.

The One-and-Done Rule

No, this doesn’t mean you should wash your vehicle once and then never touch it again. This tip is specific to the items you use to wash your vehicle and the probability of dropping them on the ground: if you drop your wash cloth once, it’s done. If you fail to follow this rule and continue using your cloth, the small stones and dirt particles on it can cause havoc on your paint’s finish. Avoid the trouble, grab a different wash cloth, and move on.

Avoid Direct Sunlight

One of the best things you can do to have your car looking beautiful by the time you’re done is keeping it wet until it’s time to dry. When you wash your car in direct sunlight, you lose the ability to do so. This means you could end up with spotty, blotchy patches where the water and soap suds dried up with the sun.

Microfiber is the Way to Go

We understand it’s easy to use an old t-shirt or kitchen towel to dry your car. However, these items are way too abrasive for your car’s paint and could cause scratches. Do the right thing and get yourself some microfiber towels that will help keep your car looking pristine for years to come.

There are many ways to keep your vehicle maintained. At Pronto Insurance, we can help with the bigger concerns such as your insurance needs.