|
Issue Date: March 30, 2008
| |
5 things
you need
to know about |
Washing your car
1. Start in the early morning or late afternoon, so the car stays cool. Heat dries the soap, causing streaks and spots. "A cool surface also minimizes paint scratching during the process," says Prentice St. Clair of Detail in Progress Inc., a San Diego auto reconditioning firm.
2. Think green. Wash your car on grass so that wastewater is harmlessly absorbed into the soil, rather than sent flowing into storm drains, where it can pollute nearby waters.
3. Gear up. To do the job like a pro, you'll need these items: biodegradable car wash soap; tar remover; wheel cleaner for your car's wheel metal type; wash mitt; soft body brush; tire brush; and large microfiber towels or synthetic chamois. "All the supplies can be purchased for $40 to $75 at an auto supply store," St. Clair says.
4. Wash section by section. Don Taylor, author of Automotive Detailing, reviews the steps: First, use road tar remover and a cloth on the lower body. Next, rinse the car with a hose. Fill a bucket with water, add soap and stir with a wash mitt to form suds. Wring out excess. Wash the roof, then windows, hood, trunk and sides. Re-dip and wring mitt as needed. Rinse. Last, scrub the wheels using a wheel cleaner and brush. Rinse.
5. Wipe down. "Dry the car from top to bottom using a microfiber towel or synthetic chamois, which lasts longer and doesn't dry stiff," St. Clair says.
-- Janet Reese
|
