FrançaisEnglishFor a car enthusiast, there’s nothing more satisfying than admiring a freshly washed and detailed vehicle, especially if you’ve done the job yourself.
A decent wash can be done in just 20 minutes, but that’s not enough to get your car truly sparkling, inside and out. When you’ve got a bit more time to spare, follow these tips to get your car looking like new.
To get the best results from your car wash and detail session, you need the right equipment.
First off, a hose is essential. If your budget allows, a pressure washer, like this Evercraft electric one, can really level up your clean.
Other equipment you’ll need includes:
For chemicals, you’ll want to gather following:
Always follow the instructions on whatever chemicals you use on and inside your vehicle. This is especially important for those that need to be diluted in water: the wrong mixture can severely affect your results.
Follow these tips to maximize your clean–and–detail routine. Check local by-laws to ensure you can wash your car on your property. Sometimes the by-laws don’t say anything about washing your vehicle but stipulate that you can’t dump chemicals down the sewer. You may need to do this at a self-serve car wash.
With the foam cannon, spray on the foaming cleaner until it’s completely covering the car. Allow the product to sit for a while, but don’t let it dry if you’re washing outdoors. No need to rinse here.
With the car shampoo diluted in water in another bucket, and with the third bucket filled with clean water, it’s time to scrub. Begin at the top of the car and work your way down the sides. When scrubbing, use side-to-side or straight-line motions and avoid washing in circular motions.
As the roof and side windows are usually cleaner, they can be washed in one step. Then, onto the hood, trunk, and sides, saving the lower portions of the doors, bumpers, and rocker panels for last.
The tires and wheels are usually the dirtiest parts of the car, so they require a bit of elbow grease. Spray the wheel and tire cleaner generously on the surfaces, brush the tires and wheels, then rinse.
Now it’s time to dry the car. Let the car air dry or use a leaf blower or microfibre drying towel. A drying aid applied to the wet car can help speed up the process. When wiping, follow the same front-to-back motion, not up and down or in swirls, so as to avoid scratching the surface.
If you’re washing outdoors, do so early or later in the day when the sun’s rays are not as strong – a cooler surface is always easier to wash. Sunlight and heat can also soften the paint, making it more prone to scratching.
Start your interior detailing by vacuuming all loose debris and dirt. Next, use a microfibre cloth and some multipurpose cleaner to get a deeper clean. Stain remover can eliminate any leftover marks.
If you have leather seats, condition them to keep the material from cracking. Car mats should be thoroughly cleaned and air dried before being returned to the floor. Compressed air can help you clean any hard-to-reach areas.
Lock in your work with protectants so your detailing lasts as long as possible.
Always use the right products for the surface you’re working on. Store some multipurpose cleaning wipes, a portable vacuum, and air freshener in your car to keep it fresh on the road.
For more interior detailing tips, check out this article.
Now that the car is clean and dry, a glass cleaner can be applied to the windows and wiped clean with a microfibre towel. Open the doors and slightly lower the windows to wipe the topmost portions. Next, evenly apply a shining agent to the tires.
As a final step, lock in everything with wax. Some hybrid waxes combine both ceramic and graphene in the paste for exceptional results without adding any extra steps. Follow the application instructions to the letter. Some waxes are solely designed to work on painted surfaces and could damage rubber, plastics, and other trim pieces.
If you follow all these tips, you should be proud of your results. The entire process can take up to two hours, but it’ll be worth it when you see your car sparkle.
For any questions about cleaning and detailing your car, visit a NAPA Auto Parts store to speak with an expert.
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