Is your car is looking dingy, dirty, and downright disgusting? If so, it’s high time to give it a thorough wash. But you have to do it right, or you could end up damaging your paint.
How can you get the best clean possible while washing your car?
With help from ChrisFix, it’s easy to get your paint shining like new. You just have to:
- Wash the exterior surface
- Complete a clay bar treatment
- Correct the finish and seal it up
Of course, it’s a lot more involved than that, but that doesn’t mean it’s hard to do. Just follow along with Chris Magello’s video, and you’ll achieve your desired results in no time flat.
Get Your Car Cleaning Supplies
Having the right tools on hand makes all the difference in getting excellent results. Here’s what you’ll need.
Touchless Wash
- Power washer or garden hose
- Foam cannon
- Dawn dish soap
Regular Wash
- Microfiber wash mitt
- Two buckets
- Grit guard
- Car wash soap
Clay Bar Treatment
- Spray bottle with soapy water
- Clay bar
- Vinyl gloves
Dry the Paint
- Microfiber towel
- Vinyl gloves
Paint Correction
- Bottle of soapy water
- Microfiber towels
- 3,000- and 5,000-grit sandpaper
- Polish
Seal the Finish
- Automotive wax
- Black microfiber towel
- Buffing towel
- Detailing brush
Complete a Touchless Wash
Since standing dirt acts as an abrasive as you scrub the surface, you want to rinse off as much as you can. Set your power washer to a wide spray pattern and keep the nozzle at least 1 foot away from the paint. If you don’t have a power washer, use a garden hose with a high-pressure nozzle instead.
Spray in a back-and-forth motion to rinse off the paint. Remember to move the spray nozzle from top to bottom to let gravity work for you. Spend a little extra time on the dirtiest areas, like around the spoiler, but don’t get too close.
Add a little bit of Dawn dish soap to the spray cannon and fill it up with water. Although dish soap is a terrible idea normally, when super cleaning your car, it’s important to remove all wax and grease from the surface.
Spray the foamy mixture all over every square inch of the car. Let it soak for a few minutes, and then rinse it all off.
Wash the Car Normally
Slide the grit guard into the bottom of your rinse bucket and fill with clean water. Add soap and water to the other bucket. Use the spray cannon to soap up the car once again.
Put the microfiber wash mitt into the soapy bucket, and then put it on your hand. Begin scrubbing the car using a back-and-forth motion.
After washing each panel, bring the mitt to the rinse bucket and rub it against the grit guard to clean it off. Then, dip the mitt back into the soap and go back to scrubbing. While you work, never let your mitt touch the ground.
Start at the roof and move onto the upper parts of the doors, hood, and trunk. Don’t forget the hidden areas, like behind the gas cap door.
Once the top half of the car is done, move on to the bottom of the fenders and the doors. Open the doors to get around the door jambs as well. After all the surfaces are washed, rinse off the paint.
Do a Clay Bar Treatment
If you rub your fingers over your freshly washed paint and feel grittiness, it’s time to clay bar. This innovative bar will remove the contaminants that are embedded in the painted surface.
To start, put on vinyl gloves. Then, pick a panel and spray it down with soapy water. Flatten down the clay bar and rub it back and forth across the paint. Use light to medium pressure and pay attention to how smooth it feels. Once everything feels super smooth, you’re done with that panel.
Between each panel, knead the clay bar to bury the contaminants inside. Also, take a moment to rinse down the entire car to prevent water marks. When you’ve bared the surface, wash it once again to remove any loose contaminants.
Thoroughly Dry the Paint
Take your microfiber towel and dry your car from the top down. Start with the roof and work in back-and-forth motions. Always press lightly while drying your paint.
Correct the Paint’s Finish
With soapy water in hand, inspect your car for light scratches. Upon finding any, spray a little soapy water on the surface and quickly dry it with a microfiber towel.
If the scratches disappear, they are just down to the clearcoat and easily fixable. To do so, spray soapy water on the surface and lightly sand with 3,000-grit sandpaper. Wet sand with 5,000-grit sandpaper after that, spraying soapy water between each step.
Dry the surface and buff polish into the paint to remove the fine scratches. Then, spray with a little more soapy water and dry it off to admire your work. The scratches are gone!
Seal Up the Finish
Put automotive wax on the applicator and rub it onto a panel. Apply an even, layer, thick enough to dull the reflection. Let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes to let the paint absorb the sealant.
While waiting, rub the wax onto the next panel. Always avoid getting wax on the black trim. Go back to the first panel and use the black microfiber towel to buff off the excess wax. Switch to the buffing towel for one more pass.
Repeat along the entire car, inspecting each side as you go to watch for missed spots. Then, use a detailing brush to remove the wax around all your badging and other tight areas. And you’re done.
Take a Cruise to Enjoy the Results
Once your car is shining bright, you can enjoy the spoils of your hard work by taking it on a cruise. You can even go the extra mile and sign up to show it off at a car show in your area.
Before you do that, get it looked over by a mechanic to resolve any leaks or other mechanical issues.
Remember to bring your Vehicle History along for the ride to ensure auto tech has all the right info on hand.
