Taking Care of Your Ride

October 10, 2008 by Mike Bizon · Leave a Comment

If you find the idea of going to the automatic car wash at the local filling station as deplorable as I do, keep reading. From the time I was very young my dad and grandfathers insisted I not only learn how to wash a car, but do it right. There are many products out there that promise all sorts of magic and proper detailing isn’t always easy. I won’t endorse specific products but rather techniques for proper car care.

To address the auto wash issue, people may say that the scrubbers and “touch-less” car washes are safe for your cars exterior. Say what you want but I simply don’t believe it. Those brushes have to be sturdy and stiff enough to wash cars all day long, every day. You can’t beat the softness of professional microfiber wash mitts and human touch. I don’t even use a spray nozzle on my cars, just the hose. The force of nozzle spray is abrasive, some nozzles have a “shower” setting which is acceptable as long as it isn’t held too close to the paint.

One of the most important decisions you can make is when to wash your car. By that I mean if you wash in full sunshine, you can expect pitting in the clear coat very soon. The beads of water act as a magnifying glass and literally bore minute holes into the paints finish. I always wash my cars before 8am or after 4pm. The times vary depending on when the sun comes up and when it sets.

I remember my grandma would have me wash her car sometimes with dish soap. I cannot express enough how bad this practice is. Dish soap is much too abrasive for a car. For crying out loud, go to Target at least and buy the best car wash soap they have, it’s like 8 bucks and lasts almost a full year. Always wash and rinse from the top down so you don’t risk leaving soap residue behind. One of the most important aspects of washing your car correctly is to use a separate sponge for the rims and tires. The reason is simply that you don’t want to be scrubbing your paint with brake dust. This can be both abrasive and corrosive to the rest of your car. Do not rinse the wheel sponge in the same soapy water you are using on the paint.

If you like the look of “wet” tires all the time and use those super high gloss tire treatments you can count on decreased life of your tires. Most high gloss treatments are petroleum based and cause cracking and dry rotting over time. Even if it boasts UV protectant, skip it and buy one that is water based. The water based treatments aren’t as shiny, but still give your tires a deep, matte black finish and won’t ruin them. If you already are running Ultra High Performance rated tires, you need all the longevity you can get!

Lastly, before drying the car, remove the nozzle off the hose (if you insist on using it to wash) and let a slow, solid stream of water rinse one last time, starting from the top down. This will remove any undetectable soap residue and “sheets” the water so there is less to dry-the less contact your cars finish has with towels, chamois, etc the better. I like to then use an old wiper blade to remove water from the windows. I’ve always used a synthetic chamois to dry the rest but there are all sorts of products that are gentle enough and do a good job. Try to use only towels, chamois that are used for your cars; don’t use a towel that is also used to scrub oil off your driveway.

These are the basics, when I do the full on wash and detail I’m dedicating hours to the job. Simple guidelines for your basic car wash can greatly extend the life of your cars exterior. I have a 2000 Honda Odyssey that looks brand new inside and out even with 3 kids (raisins and milk are completely banned from being consumed inside the van). It just takes a little time and effort.