You can save yourself a little money by washing your vehicle at home.  While it requires a little time, it’s a great weekend activity – and you can even make it a fun family project by getting the kids involved! 

You’ll Need:

Clean Plastic Bucket
Spray Hose
Good Quality Car Soap
Wash Mitt or Sponge
Clean Lint Free Towels or Chamois
Soft Tire Brush
Good Weather

Getting Started

Park your vehicle in a shady area.

Take the bucket outside and turning on the hose, fill the bucket with water and add only the recommended amount of car soap.

Using the hose, spray the car with water. Make certain to direct the spray under the wheel wells, under bumpers and on the tires and rims, loosening grime and dirt as you go.

Washing & Rinsing

With your soapy rag or sponge, wash the vehicle one section at a time, using a circular motion. It’s much easier to start at the front of the vehicle and work your way to the rear (or vice verse), or to start at the top of the vehicle and work your way down to the hood or the trunk, rather than just starting anywhere.

I usually start with the tires and get them out of the way first.  I use a soft, soapy brush to really get the tires clean and get into the rims or hubcaps.  If the tires are especially cruddy, I use a wheel cleaner first. After the tires and rims have been washed and rinsed, I then start at the top of the car and work my way down. 

Remember soap dries quickly, especially on a sunny day, so washing one area at a time and rinsing after each area has been washed will assure a much cleaner rinse. Be sure to spay special attention to areas where dirt and grime seem to settle fast and thick, like bumpers, grille and headlight areas.

Drying

Using lint free towels, lint free drying cloths or a chamois, begin at the top or your starting section, and blot the water from the surface as you go.  When the towel or cloth becomes wet, use another dry towel and continue the process. It’s a good idea to dry the sides of the vehicle last. Never drive the car to dry it quickly since the dirt from the road will simply stick to wet surfaces of the vehicle – and then all your hard work will have gone to waste!  

Finishing Touch

After the vehicle has dried completely, I usually go back to work on the tires, using a shine spray or a foam protectant.

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