Car Washing

Washing your car

Car washing 2 bucket method Regular car washing helps to remove the layer of pollutants that can damage the paint surface, and helps keep your paintwork pristine.

If washing the car makes you think of sponges and buckets however, beware! Using a sponge traps grit and grime between the sponge and your paintwork, leading to damage and swirl marks. We recommend the use of wash mitts – these are long fibre, super soft mitts which trap grit and grime and lift it away from the paint surface.

A two bucket method is recommended – with one bucket filled with your soapy water, and the other with clean water for rinsing out your wash mitt and removing the grit. Alternatively you can get buckets with grit-guards, which help trap grit & dirt particles. Drying is an important and often overlooked stage in the car washing process. Not drying your car can result in water marks, and a damp car will attract dust and dirt – undoing all your hard work. Whilst chamois leathers are increasingly a thing of a past, microfibre drying towels offer exceptionally quick drying and prevent scratching.

How to wash your car

Follow our simple steps for a show room finish.

Clean your wheels. Wheels are usually covered in brake dust and road debris. By cleaning these first you get the worst of the grime off the car, and if you splash the paintwork then it will be cleaned off imminently.

Use a good quality wheel cleaner that will remove brake dust but not damage the wheel surface. We love Dodo Juice’s ‘Mellow Yellow’ and Chemical Guys’ ‘Red Berry’ wheel cleaner.Aggitate using a Wheel Mitt or a Wheel & Detail Brush.
Pre-rinse. Ideally using a pressure washer , rinse off the car removing the worst of the mud and grit.
Now you’re ready for the washing phase. Prepare a bucket with soapy water using the shampoo of your choice, and another of clean water. Depending on your car, the paint finish, and the time you have available you may wish to choose a mild shampoo, a gloss-enhancing shampoo, or a wash and gloss. Wash the car with your wash mitt.
Work from the top down.
Rinse. Again it’s best to use free-flowing water, such as a pressure washer or hose.
Drying. We would recommend using a specially designed drying cloth. These are super-absorbent making the drying process quick and easy.

Work from the top down to avoid drips.
Everything else! Depending on the time you have available and the state of your car, you might want to think about:
- giving your windows a good clean
- applying some Dodo Juice 'Supernatural' Gloss Trim Sealant (one of our favourites)
- giving your interior a once over with Chemical Guys Natural Look New Shine Dressing (can be used on rubber, plastics, vinyl and even leather)