Are you having a hard time seeing through your dirty windshield? A good wash makes your car look better. It’s easy to do it yourself at home, whether you’re keeping it clean for maintenance or preparing it for sale. Washing your car regularly and using the right tools and techniques will keep it looking great. A personal car cleaning can also help prevent minor wear and tear from becoming noticeable, thus keeping your car’s value high.

The best car wash can be performed in your driveway with a hose, soap, and cleaning mitts. Make sure you choose a good location. Wash your car early in the morning or late at night, and stay away from dusty roads and trees where leaves, buds, and bugs can fall. If you prefer hassle-free, professional car washing services in Dubai, Tarkeeb Was Tarteeb Auto Care offers specialized services to your vehicle’s needs. The attention to detail and quality ensure your car always looks its best.

What Should You Know Before Washing Your Car?

Planning and organising will make your home car wash more successful. Before you wash your car, keep these things in mind.

• Find the shade:

It is best to wash your car in a shaded area. When you wash the car in the sun, it will dry quickly, leaving soap scum and patches on the surface. If you don’t have a shady spot to wash your car at home, wash it on an overcast, cloudy day to reduce the sunlight your vehicle receives.

• Park on the grass:

Car washes at home lead to soapy water and dirt running into storm drains, which can affect the quality of the local water supply. Park your car on grass, gravel, or an absorbent surface. (On the downside, non-eco-friendly products can ruin your lawn, and you might end up with mud that gets your tyres dirty.)

• Get ready to soak:

If there’s any wind, you’ll likely get plenty of water and soap on you while washing your car. Wear swimwear or other moisture-wicking clothing. Remember to wear flip-flops that can get wet.

• Arrange your tools:

Keep your essential supplies handy and compact so you don’t have to search for them at the last minute. Ensure you have two buckets – one for soapy water and one for non-soapy water. 

What You Need for a Home Car Wash?

There’s always a list of tools you need, no matter how big or small the job is. Car wash supplies are readily available when you wash it at home. Here’s what we need:

Equipment / Tools:

• A wet-dry vacuum that has a blower
• Old, clean toothbrush
• Microfiber cloths
• Small bowl
• Water hose
• Two 2-gallon buckets
• Two car wash mitts or sponges
• Wheel brush (optional).
• Chamois or cotton cloth

Materials:

• Garbage bag
• A safe and effective interior cleaner
• Laundry detergent
• Foam glass cleaner
• Car-specific soap
• Car wax (optional)

Steps to wash your car:

Clean the interior:

Get rid of trash and unwanted items in the car. Ensure the console, under the seats, between armrests, pockets, etc., is thoroughly cleaned and treasures are collected.

Take all the floor mats out of the car. Remove loose dirt by slapping the mats together. Then, wet-dry vacuum them with a blower on the driveway. Using the vacuum hose, remove debris from the spaces between each seat and the centre console. Put the hose back where it belongs.

Wipe down the dashboard and upholstery:

Clean the dashboard and door panels with a toothbrush to remove debris and dust. Utilise the vacuum hose to suck up the waste. Wipe the dashboard with a microfiber cloth. Next, check the steering wheel, door handles, and seats. Clean seat belts by dipping a cotton cloth into a cup of warm water mixed with a few drops of laundry detergent.

Wash Car Windows:

It’s best to use a foam glass cleaner, which doesn’t drip like liquids. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe both sides. Work in a horizontal S-motion on the inside, then a vertical S-motion on the outside. Swipe the top edge of the window after rolling down the windows. The interior of the front and back windows should also be cleaned. 

Remove loose dirt and debris:

Remove loose dirt from the car by hand or with a soft brush before washing it.

Clean the Car exterior:

All car windows and doors should be closed. Use the flat-jet nozzle of the pressure washer to loosen coarse dirt and reduce scratching with the washing brush while you pre-clean. Alternatively, you can use a soft sponge and a garden hose to pre-clean your car by hand. Pay attention to the tyres where debris accumulates. Pressure washer attachments with 360-degree joints are suitable for personal car cleaning in these hard-to-reach places.

Apply soap:

Prepare two 2-gallon buckets of water. Add a few squirts of auto-specific soap. Leave the other with plain, clean water. Make sure the vehicle’s exterior is thoroughly cleaned with soapy water, rinsing the mitt periodically in plain water to prevent scratches. Using a hose, wash the car’s exterior in the following order: roof, hood, rear, upper portion, then lower portion of each side.

Clean Car Tires and Wheels:

Use a second mitt or sponge to clean the tyres and wheels. For more minor spots, you may need a wheel brush. Using an old toothbrush can also help you clean between the spokes of your wheel.

Rinse off your car:

Rinse the car thoroughly from top to bottom with the hose, allowing the water to drip to the ground to ensure all soap has been rinsed off. Dry the car in a circular motion using a chamois or cotton cloth. This will prevent the rewetting of just-dried areas as water moves down.

Final Touches:

• Apply wax: Car wax is optional but can help protect the vehicle’s exterior. Wax coats typically last for three months, so you won’t need to do this every time you wash your car. Apply wax after the car is completely dry for a shiny, protective layer. Follow the instructions on the label and wipe with a clean, soft cloth.
• Individual parts: Focus not just on paint but also on parts. You can polish your exhaust and wheel rims to make them sparkle, add gloss to your tyres, and avoid cracks by using a tyre shine spray, wax, or paste.
• Air Freshener: An air freshener maintains a pleasant aroma in your car.

Keeping your car clean at home doesn’t have to be a hassle. These simple steps and the right tools and techniques will help you achieve a professional-looking clean. Grab the supplies, turn on some music, and give your car the luxury it deserves!

Or, skip the hassle and let the professionals at Tarkeeb Was Tarteeb Auto Care handle everything for you, from basic washes to advanced detailing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

How to properly wash a car?

Rinse the car with your hose, then fill a bucket with warm water and add the car wash detergent. Apply the soapy water with a cloth or car wash mitt. Start at the top and work your way down. Frequently rinse the cloth or mitt to remove dirt (and replace the bucket with soap and water).

Is soap OK for washing your car?

Make sure you choose car washing soap designed to handle your vehicle’s paint. When in a hurry and need a clean car, you should use hand soap or shampoo.

How long does it take to wash a car?

For an average vehicle, it takes about 30 minutes. About 45 minutes of dirty work. That is equivalent to using two buckets. Doing the tyres and wheels first is always best, so the water isn’t sitting on the paint.

What do I need to clean a car properly?

A pressure washer would be ideal, but at the very least, you need a garden hose with a spray gun extension. Additionally, you’ll need two buckets, a wash mitt, some car shampoo, and a microfiber drying towel. That’s all you need for a quick wash.