The Top 5 Car Cleaning Mistakes

Cleaning your car is easy, right? Actually—if you care about the vehicle’s paintwork then it’s not quite such a simple task as you might think. Many people make mistakes when washing and/or polishing their car, all of which build up over time and cause paintwork to become dull or even damaged in the process.

The following looks at the most common car cleaning mistakes many of us make.

Car Cleaning Mistakes: Forewarned is forearmed

• Car cleaning mistake 1: Using the wrong products
• Car cleaning mistake 2: Not taking your time
• Car cleaning mistake 3: Unintentional paint damage
• Car cleaning mistake 4: Failing to wax
• Car cleaning mistake 5: The dangers of dirt

Car cleaning mistake 1: Using the wrong products

It’s easy to think that any old detergent-type product is good enough to clean your car. But there’s a reason that washing up liquid is for cleaning the dishes, shampoo for hair, soap for your hands, etc., etc. It’s because they’re specifically designed for the purpose.

The same goes for car cleaning products. The following are the basics of a good car cleaning kit:

• A good quality, chemical-free shampoo
• Plenty of clean sponges
• Chemical-free wheel cleaner
• Soft-bristle wheel brush
• Plenty of soft microfiber cloths
• Chamois leather 
• High-quality car wax and applicator cloths

Car cleaning mistake 2: Not taking your time

There are no shortcuts to cleaning your car properly. Rinsing off obvious dirt should be the first step, followed by a good shampoo, then the rinsing process. The wheels should be washed last, always working from top to bottom. The car should be thoroughly dried using clean microfiber cloths. If it’s time for a wax, then this should be the last step when the car is totally dry. 

Car cleaning mistake 3: Unintentional paint damage

It’s so easy to damage the paintwork when washing the car. The following are some of the more obvious ones:

• Failing to gently wash or spray off obvious dirt before you begin to shampoo
• Not using clean sponges or using a sponge that you’ve dropped to the floor
• Washing the car in bright sunlight. No matter how quickly you might work, the sun will already have dried the water left on the car.
• Using products that cause damage to the paintwork
• Using grubby microfiber cloths

Car cleaning mistake 4: Failing to wax

Unless you have a paint protection product applied to the vehicle, regular waxing is necessary to keep the paintwork in great condition. This should be carried out every 6-8 weeks (or perhaps more often if you live in a hot climate). Wax helps reduce the damage caused by the elements plus helps reduce the number of times you need to wash the car. It also helps rid the vehicle of any paint swirls and water-marks.

Car cleaning mistake 5: The dangers of dirt

Dirt is public enemy number 1 when it comes to the paintwork of your car. Left to its own devices, dirt and grime cause microscopic damage that—over time—make the paint lose its luster and fade.

That’s why it’s essential to regularly clean a car, removing all this potentially corrosive dirt.

Some dirt is more dangerous than other types, such as:

• Bird droppings
• Thick mud
• Tree sap
• Brake dust
• Salt (either from the ocean air or grit on the roads)
  

Cleaning your car regularly will ensure it remains beautiful to look at. However, if you’d rather spend more time driving and less time cleaning, there are a couple of ways to do this. The application of either paint protection film or ceramic coating brings many advantages—one of which is reducing the many (many!) hours every car owner spends keeping their car spangly clean... 

Negate Car Cleaning Mistakes with Ceramic Coating from Auto SuperShield

What car owner wouldn’t love to reduce the time they spend cleaning their car, increase the longevity of the brilliance of the paintwork, and increase the value of their vehicle—all in one easy step? 

The installation of ceramic coating from an expert supplier like Auto SuperShield not only protects your car from the elements, but it ensures the factory paintwork beneath remains as silky smooth and colorful as the day it rolled off the factory line.

Head over to https://www.autosupershield.com/ceramic-coating to discover more and get in touch today to discuss your requirements.