Do’s and dont’s of washing your car
WASHING the car falls somewhere in most of our weekly routines — it’s an important part of maintaining the appearance of the vehicle. And while this seemingly simple job may be just that, car enthusiast and auto mechanic Roshane Holness said that if important guidelines are neglected you may end up causing damage to your car.What to doWhat not to do
Below, Holness provides a guideline on how we should go about washing our cars, as well as some of the common mistakes to avoid.
1. Park the car in a shaded area which will reduce the chances of it drying too quickly. If this happens it may leave blotches of soap residue on the car’s paint.
2. Wet the surface of the car all at once, but be sure to gauge the pressure from the hose. If the water pressure is too high it can rub grit over the paint and scratch it.
3. When spraying the water on your car’s surface you should try to make sure that the water runs downwards on all surfaces because water sprayed upwards may seep into the car if rubber seals are faulty.
4. Use car wash detergent instead of soap powder or even dishwashing liquid, because these can accelerate the oxidation process and give the car a dull look. In addition to that, they may break down the car’s wax coat and can be tough on rubber.
5. When drying the car use fresh towels. Make sure that you wipe down all wet surfaces to prevent rust.
6. After drying the car you can go ahead and wax it. Wax on your car’s surface protects the paint from the sun, as well as from deterioration or fading.
1. Don’t wait for your car to have layers and layers of dirt. Once you are driving it’s exposed to various elements, including chemicals and bird droppings and you want to get rid of these.
2. Do not wear hand jewellery when washing your car because these can cause accidental scratches to the car.
3. Don’t use the same wash towels on the upper and lower extremities of the car. It is best if you wash the upper section and leave the lower section for last. It is important that you do not use the same wash towel you used on the tyres and under the car on the painted surface since there is the possibility that you will bring grit to the surface of the car which can cause scrapes and scratches.
4. Don’t just focus on the exterior of your car. Take some time and focus on the interior of the car as well — dust the dashboard and instrument clusters, vacuum the carpets, use leather or cloth cleaner for the seats, take out the mats, clean and dust beneath them, and remove any unwanted garbage as well.
5. Don’t rub the towel against your car surface too hard. Rubbing too hard will leave streaks.
6. Don’t neglect washing important parts of the car as many people do. You don’t only want to focus on the glass or windows and painted areas alone. You also want to wash away the debris that gets caught under the car as well.
7. Avoid using harsh chemicals on your glass and painted areas of your car. If you are going to use a glass cleaner do not spray it directly to the window. Spray it on to a clean towel then use the towel to clean the window.
