WASHING

The vehicle should be hosed down while the bodywork is cool or in the shade. A jet wash can be used, however be cautious not to work too closely to the panel and always spray at a 45 degree angle, this will blow the dirt and grime away from the paintwork. It is important that the bottom third of the car is rinsed thoroughly as this is where much of the road dirt and salts accumulate.

More than half of all the people who wash their own car use dishwashing detergents.

These dishwashing detergents strip off all of your wax protection and then pull the vital oils out of the paint just like too much detergent does to your hands. This dries your paint out and accelerates the oxidation process. When you wash your car, only use a car wash shampoo, like Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash & Wax. This will enhance the appearance of your paint finish without stripping polish and wax while flushing off loose contaminants.

Use the two bucket method or bucket and grit guard, to ensure the dirt is separated from the main washing solution. The grit guard inserts into the bottom of the bucket and the fins of the grit guard stop any sedimentbeing swirled back into the washing solution.

The two bucket method uses one bucket of car wash solution and one of clean water. Firstly charge the wash mitt with the soapy car wash solution and wash the panel. Before charging the wash mitt with car wash solution, rinse it in the clean water.

This will separate the dirt and grit from the car wash solution, meaning even less swirl marks will be inflicted.

Sponges are a major contributor to the infliction of fine scratches or ‘swirls’. This is why Meguiar’s recommend using either a Lambs Wool Wash Mitt or Microfibre Wash Mitt.

The wash mitt allows for swirl-free washing by lifting and trapping dirt within its pile. It is important to rinse the wash mitt every time it is dipped back into the wash solution, so that any loose grit is freed from the mitt.

Once the vehicle has been washed, carry out a final rinse with a free flowing stream of water. This will help create a sheeting effect, which will reduce the drying time.

Any water that is left on the surface can be removed with a Water Magnet. This large microfibre drying towel gives fast and spot free results, reducing the time it takes to dry your vehicle. Inner door edges should also be cleaned, as water and dirt can also build up here.