How do you wash a car?
The best way to wash your car is to first empty it of rubbish, clean the rubber mats, rinse the bodywork at an approved wash facility, and then wash it with soap and a soft car sponge. Avoid strong chemicals—superfatted soap is more than sufficient and is gentle on both the car and the environment.
How to wash your car step by step – environmentally friendly and effective:
1. Empty the car
Start by removing all rubbish, old packaging, and loose items. Sort and recycle wherever possible.
2. Clean the rubber mats
Remove the mats and scrub them with a soft brush and superfatted all-purpose soap. Rinse thoroughly and leave them to dry.
3. Rinse the car
Always wash your car at a car wash or in a place with an approved drain. Washing it at home on the driveway can spread heavy metals into nature. Rinse gently with low pressure to remove dirt and grit.
4. Wash with a car sponge and soap
Use a soft car sponge and lukewarm water with superfatted soap. It also works as a natural degreaser, so strong chemicals are not needed.
5. Rinse and dry the car
Rinse thoroughly and dry the car with a microfiber cloth or similar to prevent water spots.
The rule is to wash the car – not scrub it!
Paint scratches more easily than you might think, so be careful. The water should be lukewarm, and remember never to use more than 3/4 of the water in the bucket. The remaining portion is dirty; dirt will be released from the sponge every time you rinse it, so change the water when 1/4 remains. The sponge should be rinsed in the bucket frequently—better once too often than once too seldom!
– Rinse the car and let it dry.
If you were planning to wax the car, now is the time! If you don’t have time but still need a little extra shine, there is a “household tip” / shortcut at the end of the video that goes with this blog post. Exterior plastic details will look much better with the soap; the fat in the soap makes them clean, shiny, and attractive.
Household tip for the car – Windscreen wipers should be replaced as soon as they become worn; worn wiper blades are a traffic hazard. But if you urgently need to “freshen them up” a little, apply some hand sanitizer to them and they will get a little new life!
( Another tip is to choose more practical clothes if you’re not going to take photos for a blog 😉 )
How do you remove insects stuck to the front of the car?
Insects are a problem and can become firmly stuck to the front of the car. Work up a foam of the soap and let it work for a while, then simply wipe and rinse.
The wheels, the jewels of the car!
The wheels are often called the jewels of the car. These jewels, the wheels, often get tar spots, so you need to brush them with a wheel brush and soap.
The same principle applies here: grease dissolves grease. Asphalt is greasy, so the soap will dissolve the tar spots if you let it work for a little while.
Note that using a wheel brush is important because you need to clean the entire wheel. If you miss something inside the wheel, it can cause the wheel to become unbalanced, which you will feel when you drive.
Rinse the car and wheels and you’re done!
If you want to wax the car, that’s of course fine; choose a good product, read the ingredients list, and ask in the store. If you want a little shortcut … a “household trick”, you’ll find it at the end of the video!
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Questions and answers
- Why is it important to remove all loose dust and grit before you start washing the car?
Removing loose dust and grit first reduces the risk of scratching the paint during the washing process, which is particularly important because water can act as an abrasive surface.