Maintaining the value of your car starts on the outside. Below are the top tips for washing your car.
- Don't wash cars in direct sunlight. Do wash cars in shade or in cooler temperatures in the early morning or late afternoon.
- Don't use dish detergent. Do use a formulated car wash.
- Do fill your bucket with warm water.
- Do use a soft terrycloth towel or washing mitt.
- Do spray the car often with water.
- Don't scrub the car all at once. Do complete one section at a time, rinsing repeatedly to prevent the soap from drying on the paint.
- Do use soft terrycloth towels or scratch-free fabric to dry the vehicle.
- Don't neglect waxing the vehicle. Do prep the car for waxing using cleaner/polish to remove contaminants.
"Waxing at least twice a year is recommended for maximum protection, yet surveys show that 48 percent of motorists don't wax their vehicles at all," said Jeffrey Webb, director of retail marketing at Turtle Wax, Inc.
"The myth of not having to wax your car because you have a clear-coat finish is just that, a myth," Webb said. "Clear-coat finish is only as thick as a piece of paper and can become damaged from the effects of sunlight, UV radiation, acid rain, salt, dirt and air pollution."
Read more: http://www.carcare.org/wash_wax
