How to Clean a Car

Make your car look brand new againCleaning a car is easy, but cleaning a car well is very difficult. The obvious way to do it is often the worst way and it takes a very carefully disciplined process to ensure. In addition, getting your car sparkling is a laborious process that cannot be completed in a spare half hour – expect to spend at least 2-3 hours, and perhaps more, to give the vehicle a full clean.

STEP 1: Rinse the vehicle

Rinse and wet your vehicle with normal tap water, but do not use a sponge. It will pick up grit and function like sandpaper on the surface. A high pressure hose is ideal but a good quality hose with a strong flow will also work. Make sure you get all surfaces wet several times – the water will wash off the loose dirt and will gradually help dissolve the heavier dirt.

You’ll need the leave the water for the time being to work into the dirt.

STEP 2: Clean the inside

Pick up sweet wrappers, crisp packets, tissues and any other rubbish. Take out foot mats and vacuum them away from the vehicle. Shake them out and leave them hanging outside to freshen them up. Hoover the rest of the interior including upholstery (you may need to use a special pet hair attachment if you own a dog). Wipe down the dashboard and other plastic areas with a damp cloth, and use a mild detergent to remove dirt. Do not use chemical cleaners as these can ruin the finish. Carpets and upholstery can be cleaned using a specialist fabric shampoo or a steam cleaner. Finally, hoover out the boot and wipe down surfaces.

Be VERY careful when cleaning the pedals. Silicone and oil based cleaners can leave a slippery residue which could have disastrous consequences when driving. Use only water.

STEP 3: Pre-wash the exterior

Hose the outside again to remoisten and use a soft cloth to gently rub down the entire exterior. Start at the top and work downwards, doing the bumpers and number plates last – the aim is to remove all dirt and grime. Make a solution in a bucket of fresh water and a well-known car prewash product. Apply sparingly, rub in gently then wash off with fresh water.

STEP 4: Wash the exterior

Use a reputable car shampoo and mix a solution with water, or follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The previous prewashing and rubbing should have effectively removed all dirt so this is the time to really get your car sparkling. A harder sponge can be used on hidden areas such as sills, which tend to get very dirty.

STEP 5: Tyres and wheels

These will most likely be filthy and require special treatment along with a lot of elbow grease. Clean as much as you can with a brush first, then progress to a scrubbing pad although watch out as you don’t watch to scratch the rims. Excess brake dust and ground in dirt may require a chemical cleaner to remove – check in at your local car superstore to see what products they have.

After cleaning the tyres and wheels, rinse them off thoroughly with water.

STEP 6: Dry the car

Use a chamois leather to dry the car using very gentle circular movements. This takes quite a while so be prepared to be patient. It’s best if you wash your car on a day when there’s not much sun as this will give you plenty of time to dry the car with the leather before sun dries it.

STEP 7: Clean the glass

Go over the windows – inside and out – with a dedicated car glass cleaning product. Again, use gentle circular movements and don’t rush, or streaks will appear. Microfibre cloths are best for this as they won’t leave a residue or allow the windows to streak.

STEP 8: Polish the car

Polish is frequently applied in the wrong way and can very quickly ruin a hard day’s work if you do this. Polish is designed to be rubbed on, not in. Rub it on in lines so that it forms a light shimmer then buff it using a microfibre cloth. After this use a clean soft cloth to buff it even further.

STEP 9: Show off your car

Get in and drive it around, showing off the exterior for all to see!

If you’re looking for a range of specially formulated car cleaning supplies to help you return your car to showroom brilliance, check out Click Cleaning’s car cleaning products today or call 0845 680 1955 for a free consultation.