Sham-How to Sham-WOW

How to wash your car like a pro

When was the last time you gave your car a wash? Let’s be really honest here because I know I am guilty, two months guilty to be exact. Our cars are driven daily, left out in open car parks all day and some not even garaged. Constantly exposed to the elements, eventually, wear and tear kicks in and we begin to see our beloved vehicle deteriorate. But it does not necessarily have to be this way; with a bit of TLC and a few simple tips on how to wash your car like a pro we can give your car that factory finish.

Gathering the supplies 

1. Car-wash soap
2. Two buckets – one for clean water and one for the soap
3. Washing mitt or sponge
4. Hose – preferably with a pistol nozzle
5. Drying cloth or a shammy (Chamois) cloth
6. Clay bar and lubricant
7. Wax and polish (if needed)
8. Glass cleaner
9. Rim cleaner

The wash

Before getting started, ensure that your car has been left to cool down in the shade. Attempting to wash your car while it is still hot can cause the water to dry too fast, making it difficult to wash and could leave behind water marks.

1. Begin by hosing down the car from top to bottom, including your rims, to remove any loose dirt.
2. Dip your mitt or sponge into the soapy water and start by cleaning sections of your car. Make sure to rinse each section with clean water to prevent any soapy water drying. After cleaning a section ensure to rinse the mitt or sponge out in the clean water bucket to remove any dirt.
3. Using the shammy dry off each section to remove any potential dried water marks or soap stains.
4. Apply the rim cleaner to the rims and using an old rag or sponge, gently scrub to remove and dirt and dust built up. Use an old toothbrush to scrub any hard to reach areas.
5. Lastly, apply window cleaner to your windscreen and one window at a time and using a dry rag quickly polish it out. For any remaining watermarks – use your chamois (it should still be damp from drying your car), otherwise just add a little water and polish out the marks. Stay away from house hold cleaning products like Windex as it contains ammonia which can damage the car’s window tint.

Wax on

When applying the wax make sure that you are not doing circular motions as this can create swirl marks. We recommend applying and buffing wax with a back and forth motion.

1. Apply clay bar lubricant to areas with any stubborn bonded contaminants. Gently glide the clay back in a back and forth motion until affected areas feel smooth.
2. Now apply the wax using a piece of foam or an applicator pad and apply in small back and forth motions. Let the wax sit for a few minutes until it appears hazy and then buff it out using a microfiber cloth.

Smooth these bumps

No matter how much you love your car, sometimes accidents happen. No amount of wax can fix bumps, but a good panel beater can. Book your car for a quick panel beating and spray painting and get that smooth look back.

By the end of this guide, your car should be looking factory new or at least used car new. Have a look at our next blog post for tips on how to clean your interior.