If you wash your own car, you may notice that fine scratches, swirl marks and spider webbing seem to be attracted to your car’s paint like a magnet. If this is the case, then you need a lesson in proper car washing techniques.

Washing your car regularly is to exterior car care as changing your oil is to good engine maintenance. As we used to hear on TV, “You can pay me now or pay me later!” As with the engine, dirt and grime are the enemy of your vehicle’s paint, glass, plastic and polished metal finishes. It causes scratching and it’s a catalyst for corrosion. That means that regular washing is essential, but are you doing it the right way?

The Double-Edge Sword of Car Washing

Car washing can be a double-edged sword. That’s because your average jug-o-car-wash product is more likely to strip your car wax than not, leaving you with a dull, unprotected paint finish. Dish washing detergents, a favorite of many car owners, are even worse. Products like Dawn work great cutting through grease and grime, making them a very effective car wax remover. Sure, your car will be spotless, but it won’t have a bit of protection.

The Importance of a Quality Car Wash Soap

If you’re going to wash your own car, be sure to use a quality car wash shampoo product. Trust me, spending a buck or two extra on a good product is money well spent. You can’t go wrong with Meguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash and Conditioner or Mothers California Gold Car Wash. They are both easy to find at your local auto parts store and they won’t remove your wax protection. Plus, these wash shampoos offer conditioners designed to prevent scratching and maintain the shine.

Cheap Wash Mitts & Household Sponges are a No-No!

If you are already using a quality car wash, and you get swirls and scratches anyway, the problem could be your wash mitt or sponge. Cheap, synthetic wash mitts are bad news, and household sponges are even worse. What your car needs is a high quality wash mitt that holds lots of soapy water and is free-rinsing. I highly recommend a lamb’s wool mitt or one of the big, shaggy microfiber wash mitts. They work great and they don’t scratch, unless you don’t use it correctly.

I can’t tell you how many times I have watched people use their wash mitt, then toss it on the ground while they rinse the car. On the ground the wash mitt picks up dirt and grit like a magnet. Almost as bad is tossing the mitt into the bucket of soapy water where it sinks to the bottom and picks up all of the grit and grime you just washed off. The best solution is to put it across the rim of your wash bucket or use a device called a Grit Guard to keep it off the bottom of the bucket altogether.

Try Using Two Buckets… It Works!

If you are really paranoid about swirl marks and fine scratches (black car owners, listen up), you might want to use the two bucket method. That’s where you have one bucket with your soapy water and a second bucket of clean water for rinsing your wash mitt. This makes your soapy water last longer because you never put your wash mitt into the soap before rinsing it.

The two bucket method has a very practical benefit. Most importantly it keeps dirt and grit out of your soapy water, which keeps it off your car’s paint. It also makes your soapy water and wash suds last longer.

Old Bath Towels for Drying… Never!

After washing, it’s time to dry. A thorough drying off prevents water spots and streaking, but what’s the best towel to use? It isn’t a bath towel, I can tell you that.

Household towels contain polyester threads and backing for durability. Pure cotton is nice and absorbent, but it isn’t strong enough. That’s why bath towels, kitchen towels and beach towels contain polyester. Unfortunately, polyester is stronger that steel and it scratches just like steel wool. If you use household towels to dry your car, they will cause swirl marks.

The old timers used leather chamois. They work great, last a long time, and don’t scratch, but they have to be put through a wringer. A more modern solution is the microfiber drying towel, often called a waffle weave towel. Although these towels are synthetic, they are super absorbent and the cloth fibers are so fine and soft they don’t scratch. You can buy microfiber drying towels at your local auto parts store.

A scratch-free, swirl-free car wash isn’t difficult or a mystery. Use a quality car wash, wash mitt and drying towel and your swirl mark problems will be gone forever.

Back in the day, there was no such thing as an all-in-one car wash and wax product. If you wanted to wash and wax your car, you had to have a bucketful of products and special cloths handy to do so. Fortunately, washing and waxing a vehicle is no longer the time-consuming endeavor it used to be. Nowadays, you can clean and polish your car in one fell swoop, thanks to waterless car cleaning products that also contain wax.

Waterless car wash products both wash and wax your vehicle and do not require the use of water. These products dissolve and lift dirt from the surface of your car. All you have to do is spray the formula on your car, rub it in a circular motion with a terry cloth to remove dirt, and then buff the haze that’s left with a microfiber cloth. Not only will this type of car wash/wax save you 20 to 50 gallons of water per vehicle, it will also save you time and money.

Tips for Choosing a Waterless Car Wash Product

There are several brands of waterless auto detailing products on the market, but not all of them are created equal. Here are some factors to consider when you are looking for a car cleaning product to purchase:

* Active Ingredients. What ingredients does the product contain? Some waterless washes contain carnauba wax, others contain clay, and others are polish-based. Top quality car wash/wax products generally contain carnauba wax as an active ingredient. Carnauba wax is a vegetable fat obtained from a Brazilian palm tree. It is the wax of choice among many auto enthusiasts because it beads water and creates a deep, rich shine.

* Price and Value. Typically, a can of waterless wash and wax costs $19.99 and contains 17.50 oz, but quantities vary depending on what brand you buy. In addition, check to see if the car wash comes in a value pack that includes freebies and whether discounts are offered when you order in bulk.

* Ease of Use. Is the auto detailing product easy to apply and rub off? Make sure that the spray tip of the waterless wash stays put when you use it. Furthermore, the formula should also be easy to wipe off the surface of your car, so you don’t end up scratching your vehicle.

* Performance. Does the formula provide a streak-free finish? Does it bead water for weeks following its application? Does it remove dirt with minimal effort? How long does the protective finish last? These are questions you should keep in mind when evaluating the performance of a product.

* Eco-friendliness. Check to be sure that the car wash and wax product you purchase is VOC compliant.

All-in-one wash and wax products are a great choice because they eliminate the need to use several different types of car care products and they don’t require as much work on your part. On the other hand, if you use a separate wash, polish, and wax, you will have to put a lot of more time, money, and effort into maintaining your vehicle. With a waterless car care product at your disposal, you can ditch that bucket full of auto care supplies without sacrificing your car’s good looks.

Car wash equipment that uses hot or very hot water for cleaning is more versatile than machines that use just cold water. Pressure washers that heat water to as much as 330°F enhance the productivity of the car wash process in many ways:

* Removing Grease: Car parts tend to get very grimy and greasy due to the constant fumes and burning of fuel in the engine. Engine maintenance without appropriate tools such as high-quality car wash equipment is very difficult. High temperature pressure washers dissolve and wash away grease, burned fuels, and grime.

* Removing Snow and Frost: There is no faster way to melt snow, ice, and frost from cars than using car wash equipment that generates very high temperatures.

* Interior and Exterior Cleaning: Car washing equipment cleans inner and outer surfaces of cars as long as you use the right machines. Pressure washers are used for cleaning the outer surfaces, while a portable steam cleaner maybe used for cleaning dashboards, steering wheels, dashboard compartments, and so on.

Heat dissolves grease, organic matter, chewing gum, and similar substances faster than other methods. Using car detailing equipment that utilizes steam or heated water speeds up the cleaning process. Cold water hardens grease and dirt unless copious amounts of very harsh detergents are used.

Exterior Detailing

Removing dirt from tires, doors, windows, and engines without damaging the surface requires the use of top-quality car wash equipment specifically designed for such tasks. A pressure washer should be powerful enough to remove dirt and gentle enough not to harm the surface below. Auto detailing pressure washers have pressure levels of 750 psi to 1500 psi to clean cars completely without denting or stripping the paint. Some of these car detailing machines are designed to be low flow, using a fraction of the water used by conventional auto detailing products.

If you run a mobile car wash business, you should purchase a machine that can be fitted on a trailer and transported to work sites. Fixed-location businesses can use either a stationary or mobile car wash machines. A stationary unit equipped with two operator trigger guns increases efficiency.

Interior Detailing

A portable steam cleaner is used for cleaning hard surfaces inside the vehicle, including floors and dashboards. Note that steam cleaners have a limited capacity when it comes to cleaning large or multiple carpets and upholstery. You will need a carpet cleaning machine for that.

A portable steam cleaner should be equipped with a variety of brushes for easier handling of the cleaning process. An example of this may be that a nylon brush is best for cleaning the dashboard. Many mobile car wash steam cleaners have a HEPA filter to remove pollen, dust, pet hair, dust mites, and other allergens from the surface, while an anti-bacterial mechanism helps remove most germs from the surface.

Car detailing machines, if chosen with care, offer good service and last for a long period of time. In addition, these machines help businesses increase their output while cutting down on nonproductive tasks.