If you've already seen our latest blog on maintaining your vehicle during lockdown, you'll know that taking care of your car is still a must - even when it is not being used. A basic cleaning routine is also a habit you should be keeping.
So, here are some simple tips to get the best out of your clean, and your time, and to ensure the best results each time. As a bonus starting tip, we recommend, if you have the time to spare, vacuuming and cleaning the inside of the vehicle first, to get rid of any dust, grime and unwanted odours - especially if your vehicle is going to sit unused for some time.
1. Rinse and repeat
If you can avoid using a bucket of water for this step, we advise you do. It's fine if this is your go-to, but it won't live up to the job of a hose or pressure rinse. If you have a pressure hose, you're at an advantage, but a strong-pressured garden hose with a trigger connector will work too.
Hose the vehicle down as thoroughly as you can. Use this opportunity to push away any debris or dust, and to loosen the more stubborn dirt that may be clinging in those hard to reach areas. The more attention you pay to the rinse, the less elbow grease you'll have to endure throughout the next steps of the clean. So rinse, and rinse again.
2. Lather and wash from side to side
Use a sponge or, if you have one, a car cleaning glove and your car shampoo to give your vehicle a sweeping clean. Do this by lathering the shampoo onto the body of the car with your sponge, starting at the top and working your way down.
Move from side to side, in slow, sweeping motions to avoid circular watermarks staying behind. After each section you shampoo, rinse your sponge thoroughly with your hose, or with a clean bucket of water, and repeat the lather process until the car has been shampooed from top to bottom.
3. Rinse off the shampoo
Again, using your hose, give the car a thorough rinse to rid of all the remaining suds and soap. If you notice any streak marks, you may want to give them a second sponge-over, and rinse again.
4. Dry
Use either a microfiber drying cloth, or a chamois leather, and dry your car from top to bottom. use the same motion as with your sponge, but give more attention to the finish.
The whole process, if done well, should take roughly an hour.
We recommend that, while you car is being used less frequently, you do this wash every one to two weeks to help maintain good housekeeping.
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