It’s hard to ignore the fact that your car or personal vehicle is an integral part of your day-to-day routine and keeping it clean is of paramount importance. Our post on keeping your car clean using expert car wash techniques is aimed at helping you buckle down and clean your car yourself – all you need is a little elbow grease!
This blog has been updated on May 26, 2021.
Cleaning your car’s exterior
Washing your car regularly is one fool-proof method to making sure dirt and debris don’t collect and harden over time on your car’s surface. Make sure you wash off any dirt, bird droppings, mud, or grime that may have accumulated on your car as soon as you notice it. Letting the crud build up and being lazy about cleaning it up might leave your car’s paint job with hard-to-remove blemishes.
If it’s a quick exterior wash you’re looking at getting, you could try one of your local automated car washes. Speedway is one such chain that offers some of the best car care and car cleaning services. Speedway is most definitely one of these facilities – thoroughly professional and efficient, they’ve been around for a while and can boast of multiple locations across the country.
Use two buckets instead of one
Always use two buckets of water while washing your car – one filled with the car wash soap solution and the other to collect the dirty water and rinse out your sponge or mitt. Dip your mitt into the soapy solution first, clean your car and then dunk it in the second bucket to rinse or wring it out. Start from the top of the car and work your way downwards – most dirt tends to accumulate towards the bottom half of your vehicle.
Use a wash mitt instead of a sponge
Using a car-specific wash mitt or microfiber towel while washing your vehicle can go a long way in helping protect the exterior. They hold a ton of soapy water and are super easy to wring out after having soaked up all the dirt. Sponges, on the other hand, allow for dirt to get caught between it and the car’s paint, resulting in minute (but noticeable over time) scratches.
Choose the right hose
From avoiding getting the hose tangled around the tires to strengthening weak water pressure, choosing the right hose is a necessity. Add to that a handy nozzle with multiple spray settings and you’re good to go – what’s more, these hoses and nozzles work just as well in your garden or when you’re out in the yard.
Cleaning your car’s interior
Start by picking up and disposing of what you can reach – candy wrappers, soda cans, empty bags, and take out the floor mats. Follow that up with a thorough vacuum of the car’s interior – portable handheld vacuum cleaners are perfect for this purpose and work efficiently to keep your car dust and debris free. Most of these portable vacuum cleaners come with a host of extensions, brushes, and nozzles that ensure you’ll get access to all those nooks and crannies. Remember to move your car seats forward and back to get underneath the carpet.
Keeping your dashboard neat is a pretty straightforward process – if there’s minimal dust, simply use a microfiber cloth or gently wipe with a moist towelette or cloth. You could also choose to use a spray-on car interior cleaner that will leave the dash looking shiny and leave behind a slightly waxy surface. Getting rid of any unpleasant odors is simple enough – just use a traditional scented air freshener, potpourri, or a deodorizer. Some of these deodorizers come with an activated charcoal setting that deals with the strongest odors and can be plugged into your car’s power socket.
Don’t compromise on quality
Quality over quantity – that’s a mantra that works well in the car wash universe. Focus on the kind of tools and procedures that are in place at your car wash – modern tech is always a good sign of a great car wash facility. Cars are definitely long-term investments, and the same ought to apply to your car wash facility as well. Professional services trump more affordable options any day of the week. That’s where Speedway comes in – Speedway prices are some of the most affordable out there and yet do not compromise on quality one bit. When you choose a ‘Speedway near me‘ through the Way.com website or app, you’ll get an Express Car Wash that includes an exterior wash and dry that utilizes a T3 conditioner, along with wheel cleaning services for a nominal price.
Websites and apps like Way.com offer professional and top-rated car wash services at great prices. What’s more, the whole family can get in on the sudsy action thanks to Way.com’s Carwash Voucher and Family Car Wash Pass that can be used on multiple (that’s right, multiple) vehicles!
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