Content

• To step
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Washing your car yourself can be a relaxing and fulfilling activity away from the worries of life and an activity the kids can help with. All you need is soap, a bucket and some cloths.

To step

1. Park the car in the shade. This way the car does not dry too quickly; air drying can cause water spots.
2. Put everything you need at your fingertips.
3. Fill a bucket with water and add as much car wash soap as stated on the package.
4. Fill a second bucket with clean water.
5. Make sure all windows are closed and retract the antenna.
6. Spray the car with the garden hose to loosen the dirt. Do not use a strong jet, as this can push the dirt into the paint, causing scratches. Spray all surfaces with a downward jet. If you direct the jet upwards at the windows, the water can enter the car if the rubber strips do not close the window well enough.
7. Pull the wipers away from the window until they click into place and are upright away from the glass.
8. Thoroughly wet a clean wash mitt or sponge and start washing the car. Do not use a hard brush, this will scratch the paint.
9. Wash the car part by part and start with the roof. Walk around the car a few times while washing, going lower and lower.
10. Rinse the wash mitt or sponge regularly in the bucket with clean water.
11. Rinse immediately with clean water if you have had a section to prevent soap stains.
12. Keep the car wet while washing until you are done and wipe it dry with a cloth. You don't want water stains on your paint.
13. Clean the bottom part and the wheels last, they are the dirtiest. It is best to use a separate glove or sponge for this.
14. Use a long, thin brush to clean the gaps in the rims. If you have high-gloss wheel covers, it is also better to use a glove or sponge for this, after you have rinsed away as much dirt as possible.
15. Clean the sides of the tires with a hard (plastic) brush.
16. Also rinse the underside of the car from various sides with a garden hose, especially if the car has come into contact with salt.
17. Dry the car with clean cloths.

Tips

• For extra clean windows, rub them on the inside and outside with a wad of newspaper
• You can get special products to get the wheel covers clean, nice and shiny.
• Gloves can be washed well in a washing machine, unlike sponges.
• Close the tap while you are washing, otherwise you will waste many tens of liters of water. Bad for the environment and your wallet.
• Bird droppings and insects can damage the car paint. Remove them as soon as possible with a wet cloth. If necessary, let it soak if the dirt doesn't come off immediately.
• If the car is very dirty, be patient and let soap and water do the job. Leave the car for a while after spraying it wet and after soaping it up. Wash the parts a few times in a row. Wash in the morning or evening, the car dries less quickly. Do not brush too hard and do not use a hard brush, you will get scratches. And in the end, it is less bad that a little bit of dirt remains than that you have scratches in your paint because you have brushed too diligently.
• If you don't want to remove the wax coating, don't wash your car with dish soap.
• Microfiber cloths work best on all surfaces of the car. After use, you can simply throw them in the washing machine. Do not use fabric softener, it will come out of the cloth when cleaning and will remain on the car.
• A wax layer protects the paint against sunlight, it prevents discoloration and peeling, and against flying grit and stones.
• Remember that washing your car will get you wet and dress accordingly.

Warnings

• Do not use ammonia-based cleaning products on tinted glass, your windows will discolour and the tinted layer will peel.
• Use special cleaning equipment for the wheels and tires, because a lot of dirt and sand gets into them, which can scratch the paint.

Necessities

• Shady workplace
• Soap possibly special car wash soap
• Garden hose
• 2 large buckets
• 2 thick wash gloves or sponges
• Brush for the wheels
• Cloths, cotton or microfibre
• Window cleaner
• Vacuum cleaner (always vacuum the inside of the car before using soapy water to avoid electric shock)
• Pledge or wash
• Cloth for covering with wax