RSS 2.0 FeedWinter 2009 , Columns
Car Hygiene - Car Wash 101
A primer on how to wash your treasured car, if not with what.
Throughout our lives as car owners, we pick up habits; some healthy, but others are downright sick. And despite the your best intentions, some of these habits cause more harm than good, not only to you, but to your ride. From maintenance to driving style we all do things a bit differently, but when it comes to washing our vehicles, most are guilty of the same mistakes.
If challenged, the first response of any true car enthusiast will be, “Of course I know how to wash my car!” And why shouldn’t we? Proper car washing techniques, if used correctly, can bring new life to old paint and prolong or even save the life of a young paintjob. Unfortunately, many of us go wrong before the rag even hits the bucket.
First, each washing session should start with a new wash cloth. Not a “clean” one, a new one. If the rag is only “clean,” then what was it cleaned from? Most likely a previous wash. What were you washing? Tires? Bumpers? Rocker panels? Putting a car wash cloth through the wash cycle of a conventional washing machine will never remove the hazards picked up during the previous wash. Those “clean” rags are fine for tire shining or undercarriage scrubbing, but it should never again be used to clean the face panels of the vehicle. This is the illusion that leads to scratched cars and upset car owners. Do yourself a favor and start with a new cloth. You will save yourself hours of polishing to remove those fine scratches put in your paint by your “clean” cloth.
Being able to relate anything you do to your car to yourself always ends up giving you a clearer picture of what you may be doing right or doing wrong. For example, when you shower would you immediately scrub your feet with a wash cloth, then with out rinsing it, wash your face? Automotive owners do not want to think of the car washing process as a ritual born with guidelines, but you may need to review your steps before that soiled wash cloth graces your face.
Understanding this is not the way washing was intended, we need to picture your vehicle in sections. These sections, same as with the particular areas of your body, should never be cross washed. Picturing the roof as your head, begin there. With the cleanest water of the whole washing process and the most lather, bathe the uppermost area of the vehicle with abundant water and solution. This allows the water to carry the cleaning solution to the rest of the car. As you clean the roof, the rest of the vehicle is being soaked for easier washing of those tougher, hard to reach areas. This first step is key to the outcome, and the total look of the wash. There is a reason why, when water is in short supply, the government asks us to “avoid washing our vehicles.” Now, given you are not in one of those dry areas or times, use that water! Every section you wash should be rinsed for half the time it took to wash it. You can not hurt the paint with water, but you may scratch it if you do not rinse thoroughly enough.
After you have rinsed your roof section, the side panels, also known as the “body” panels, are prepped for the wash. The natural flow of the wash is top to bottom, head to toe, not toe to head….right? Keeping this straight will lead us to the hood and deck lid (or trunk). These panels are the most visible after the wash so take it slowly. For you men, when you shave your face, you don’t rush through figuring you removed the desired gristle without feeling to see if you achieved your goal. Then why would you rush off to other sections of the car if you know that this is the part that most people will have to look at. Don’t you want it right? Or are you the kind of guy that thinks he has a new look when you miss a patch of hair on the bottom of his chin or side of his cheek? So take your time, over lap your strokes, and don’t embarrass your car by leaving it with dead bugs and road tar on its face.
Since we’re talking about stroke, some people assume a swirling motion while washing a vehicle may leave more scratches, that you can see, then a wide sweeping motion. That is true only if the solution you have chosen doesn’t lather up well. The truth is, any technique will get the job done, as long as you have adequate suds. This thin sheet of frothy protection quells all of your aggression and destructiveness. It provides a barrier between your cloth and any surface fragments. Keeping this up throughout the wash is essential to a good looking finish. Most of the store bought solutions depend on the agitation of the soap to activate the chemicals to produce the desired finish.
Notice how we have skipped everyone’s favorite until now: side panels. We skipped these for a reason. The side panels are entirely nostalgia driven, and the downfall of many of us well-intentioned washers. When you picture a steamy car wash scene with a shapely body (whichever type you prefer) of someone scantily clad, covered in foam steadily caressing your dream car, what panel is that hottie petting? The side. The mental picture of a car wash is that of washing the door panels. To me, this is pointless. It would be like getting in the shower, then getting out because you washed your love handles. Who cares?
There are other more important, yet tougher to clean areas on a vehicle. These panels may be low on the totem pole of importance in the finished product, but they do need care too. Wash the fender doors and quarter panel sections of your car in sub sections (above the molding, and below). If your vehicle doesn’t have moldings on the door and fender then stop your stroke mid panel. The side sections of any vehicle have a crowning feature to them. This feature, the roll at the bottom of the door, is designed to reflect and protect the door and other car panels from road debris. Naturally, the majority of your driving dirt is deposited on the lower sections of the side panels. Cleaning both sides, molding up, is key before going any lower. Silicone, glass fragments, pebbles, tar, paint, and numerous other contaminants can be spread to the upper panels if you venture below the mid section before finishing on the top. Do you wash “your” lower mid section before finishing on top? I hope not. But those of you who do, this is a good rule to learn now, so as to not spread any “contaminants”.
It may be the most uninviting part of this whole task, but the lower door panels and rocker panels are essential to keep clean (and protected). Unfortunately, these are the most commonly skipped items in the washing process. The rocker panel is the section under the door panels. When you open the door, it’s what you put your foot on when you step into the vehicle. This panel is the most abused painted section of the vehicle. Keeping this clean will ensure the life, and integrity of the doors and other side structural panels. If the rocker panels are not part of your upkeep, they may be getting chipped by road debris, which will expose bare metal to road conditions. This can lead to paint peeling, rust and metal disintegration. The rule is, when you see rust it is too late. The amount of rust that can be seen is only a fragment of what has formed underneath. So keep those “clean” rags busy looking out for the bottom panels of your cars protection.
If you follow this routine (and focus your current car wash technique) it will undoubtedly produce a more brilliant wash. Moving from roof to rocker allows your car to dry as you go which also saves you time in the process. If you think through your wash before you begin wiping away, it will save you heartache in the long run – and provide peace of mind, knowing you are not risking the overall health of your paint job. All thanks to a little planning. Keep accidental cross washing to a minimum, and you will extend the vibrant life of your paint for many years to come.
Remember - minimize cross washing in the shower and on the street. It just gives you a better finish.