Washing the Vehicle - Do's and Don'ts

    Welcome this fine Friday morning to the Blackmotorway Blog. We hope everything is going well as Spring is upon us. With spring comes spring cleaning (maybe), so let us look at washing the vehicle.
    

WASHING:

Start by THOROUGHLY rinsing the car. As we said in rule #1, use lots of water and a gentle stream to avoid scratches. Excessive water pressure will cause the dirt to grind at the surface. Some detailers prefer to let the water flow freely out of the hose without the benefit of a nozzle.
Use a detergent designed specifically for car washing. Don't use common dish washing detergent, as it is too strong and will remove the wax you want to keep. There really isn't a lot to washing a car; simply mix detergent according to the manufacturers' directions, dip your sponge or mit into the bucket and have at it. There are a few guidelines to follow however:

• Use generous amounts of water/detergent. When the bucket gets down to about one-third full, empty it, give it a quick rinse and refill with detergent/water.
• When you wash a car, do it in sections. Start with the roof, which will make rinsing easier. Then do other sections, such as the front fender, door, rear fender and so on, rinsing thoroughly in between. Always rinse soon after applying so a soap film does not develop. Do not suds up the entire car and then rinse; some of the soap will dry and a film like substance will remain.

After washing, rinse the entire car just to be sure all the soap is cleared away. Don't forget the nooks, crannies and crevices where soap can hide.


If the car is particularly dirty, wash it twice. The first washing will take care of the majority of the dirt and the second will complete the job. Some car enthusiasts will wash twice as part of their routine.
Avoid scratches by using two buckets; one will have your normal car wash detergent, the other will be just water. When you are finished sudsing up a particular area, rinse the wash mit/sponge in the plain water. This will keep scratch causing dirt particles from revisiting the surface of your car. Another approach is to rinse off with your hose the wash mit/sponge before dipping it into the car wash detergent.


Car washing will go a lot quicker if two people are on the job. One will do the sudsing, while the other follows close behind with the rinsing hose.


DRYING:
Dry thoroughly, using a generous supply of the softest towels you can find. Fold the towel into a manageable square and turn it over or unfold it frequently to take advantage of its entire surface. Used towels seem to work best, probably because repeated washings have softened them. Bath towels work well, although it may be more practical to cut them in half.

Microfiber Towels:

Microfiber towels are a recent development and have gained quick acceptance amongst both professional and amateur detailers.As their name implies, Microfiber towels are made up of extremely fine fibers about 100 times smaller than human hair. They feature soft surfaces that accommodate the "avoid scratches at all costs" mantra of a quality detailing job. Unlike cotton, which is a natural fabric, Microfiber is synthetically manufactured using two basic fibers, Polyester and Polyamide. Microfiber towels used for drying are "split", a process which allows them to "hook" up dirt and other undesireable items, giving them their cleaning properties.The same splitting process gives microfiber towels their water absorbant characteristics. They are excellent for drying a car after a washing session and can absorb seven times their weight in water.Wash microfiber towels with small amounts of liquid detergent; do not use powder as it is possible for undissolved scratch causing powder particles to remain in the towel. Do not use bleach or fabric softeners. Air drying is preferred as intense heat is bad for microfiber towels.
Drying is best accomplished as a two part process. The first time you will get rid of most of the water and the second pass will complete the job. As with rinsing, do not forget the various nooks and crannies which can trap water.

    Miscellaneous Notes:

• We do not recommend using a chamois, since they can trap dirt and cause scratches. They also have a tendency to "pull" the wax off.
• If possible, do not wash a car in bright sunlight. Soap suds can dry, which will leave a film. "Water spotting" also can occur when drops of water act like miniature magnifying glasses in bright sunlight. If a shaded area is not available, try washing in the late afternoon or early morning hours when the sun is not strong.
•       Don't forget to wash the headlights and surrounding areas if your car is equipped with pop-up headlights.

Do not wash under a tree, as the sap can damage the paint.

      That is a lot of information about washing a vehicle and I hope that some of these tips are helpful in maintaining your vehicle cleanliness. Hope your brackets are going better than mine in March Madness. Hope everyone can get out and support the area athletes during the spring season. Good Luck Athletes.

                                                              Enjoying Spring Weather

                                                              The BLACKMOTORWAY BLOGGER