Autos

8 Common Car Wash Mistakes You Should Avoid

8 Common Car Wash Mistakes You Should Avoid

Washing your car at home and still getting professional results has never been easier. From washes to waxes, car detailing products are now made to ensure that your efforts do not turn into paint-scratching errors. 

A glowing exterior, clean and tidy interior should be every car owner’s car wash goal. It is possible if you avoid some common car wash mistakes. One thing you should remember is that the process of car washing requires patience and care. 

Having said that, let’s see what are some possible mistakes that could lead you to a car wash disaster.

1. Using Household Soaps or Detergents

One of the most common mistakes that people make while washing their car at home is using household soaps or detergents. The composition of household cleaners is not suitable for your car and it can cause damage to your car’s shine, surface and finish. 

sponge-with-foam

You should only use specific car washing products to make sure that your car’s shine lasts even after you wash it. 

2. Using the Same Bucket For Clean and Dirty Water

When you are washing your car, make sure you have two buckets. The first one should contain soapy water and the second one should be used to squeeze the dirty cloth. 

red-bucket-beside-a-car

Squeezing dirt in soapy water will hamper the quality of your car wash. It will cause the surface to remain dirty even after you rinse it. 

3. Washing in Direct Sunlight

Another mistake that you should avoid is washing your car under direct sunlight. If you do so,  the car wash foam will dry  before you rinse it. Even though the foam will dry, it will leave spots on the surface making it look dirty.

washing-car-in-sunlight

You can prevent all of this by avoiding direct sunlight. 

4. Using a Regular Towel

Another common mistake is using a regular towel to dry your car. Drying is usually the last or second last step of a car wash process and it needs to be done carefully because it can easily mess up all your efforts. 

household-towels

You should use a special micro fiber cloth to dry the car as it will ensure a clean and sleek look. A towel, on the other hand, will only grind the mud into your car’s surface. 

If you are interested in buying a micro fiber cloth, you can get it from OLX Pakistan.

5. Using Dry Towel to Wipe Spots

If, by chance, you have missed a few spots on your car during the car wash process, do not use a towel or an absorber later on to dry them. Doing this will not clean the spots, rather will make them permanent. 

spots-on-car

6. Washing in the Wrong Order

This step of the car wash process should not be a secret but, surprisingly, it is. It is extremely important to know that washing your car should be done in a particular order. But what is this order? Cleaning the tires first and washing the body last. 

washing-car-tyre

The tires of your car are the dirtiest which means if you wash them last, the dirt will splash onto the car paint that you have just cleaned. To prevent yourself from doing the process twice, make sure you wash the tires, rinse the car and then move onto the next step. 

Once you are done with all the steps, you have to reverse the process – clean the body and then the tires. Cleaning from top to bottom will help you prevent any dirt from transferring back onto the body. 

7. Using Excessive Wax

It is a smart move to give an extra layer of protection to your car by adding an extra layer of wax but make sure you do not overdo it. Going too generous on car wax will cause trouble for your car’s paint in the long run. 

using-car-wax

8. Not Using a Lubricant to Clean Bird Poop

Bird poop is irritating and it is natural to want to scrap it off. But it is not how you should do it. Make sure you spray some lubricant on it or use a water drenched cloth for it. Keep the cloth on top of it and let it dissolve. 

cleaning-bird-poop

Car wash at home may be a fun process for some, but for others it may require too much of their time. If you are someone who wants to get a professional car wash service, visit OLX Pakistan’s website and check out the car services available. 

We hope this blog was helpful for you and will help you perform the car cleaning process at home. 

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Car Maintenance and Service Checklist

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