Tar, bird droppings, sludge, salt in winter: the bodies of our cars are subject to permanent aggressions, which require good knowledge to try to preserve as long as possible the shine and luster of the paint of the first days. .
The different types of washing
If the brush rollers are the simplest and most practical solution, it is obviously far from being the panacea for those who are a little more demanding in terms of finishing. Despite the progress made in this area with the use of synthetic fibers on the rollers, the most aesthetes will always be able to detect the presence of micro-scratches on the paint, following the passage of the rollers.
Second option: high-pressure washing. This type of washing is effective in loosening stubborn sludge and more particularly at the wheel arches, underbody and underbody. Be careful with the bodywork: the power of the jet can cause damage to your paint, existing small chips can be accentuated if you pass the high-pressure jet too close.
Purists will swear only by the third option: the bucket of water, the right products and accessories, the right techniques and a good dose of elbow grease: this is the formula that will give the best result.
Hand washing
Before you start, make sure you have all the necessary products and accessories on hand. The car shampoo of course, to be preferred to dishwashing liquid. Select car shampoos based on synthetic polymers, which will preserve the protective layer of your paint as much as possible. In the same concern, opt for washing gloves and microfiber cloths, which will not leave any scratches on the varnish of your beautiful car.
Let’s go. Start by getting your vehicle wet. The application of the shampoo must be done zone by zone, from top to bottom. So you have to start with the roof. If it’s hot and you’re washing your car in direct sunlight, you shouldn’t leave the shampoo exposed on the bodywork for too long, otherwise it will dry out and cause unsightly halos in the end. In this case, you must quickly rinse the current area before shampooing the next one.
For very dirty parts where mud and other dirt have dried and hardened, be sure to moisten them well and peel them off gently, so as not to damage your varnish.
Once the bodywork has been well rinsed and dried, always iron a microfiber cloth, to thoroughly clean the small traces of moisture here and there that could remain on the bodywork.
You should know that during the washing operation, a thin layer of limestone will have deposited on your bodywork, limestone from the washing water. So you need to know the pro trick! The final touch, the little secret that will make your body shine with all its brilliance, therefore consists at this stage in applying a layer of protective wax, which will not only remove this layer of limescale, but will also preserve your varnish until the next wash.