How to wash your car without using unnecessary chemicals
Here are a number of environmentally friendly and gentle cleaning tips for the car. All tips here are gentle on both you, the car and the environment!
If you have a new, expensive car that requires special products and special care, we cannot recommend all tips to just you and your car. The car manufacturer's advice should always come first, and if you are the least bit unsure, you should contact the store where you bought your car.
This is how you do it
1. Remove all rubbish, unnecessary items and other superfluous items from the car. Sort paper, plastic and metal – throw away the rest!
2. Take out the car's rubber mats and scrub them with a soft scrub brush and soap.
Since Västerbottenssåpa is superfatted, the rubber mats become very nice from the soap, there are special products to regain shine in plastic and rubber (vinyl shine) but you don't need them if you use a fatty soap instead.
Rinse the mats and hang them to dry while you wash the rest of the car.
3. Rinse the car BUT you should not do this at home in the yard if you do not have an approved drain, it is inappropriate because heavy metals and toxins are released and can end up in the waterways. Note that many municipalities do not allow washing other than in a specially designated place. Here at Naturvårdsverket there is more information about car washing and the rules surrounding it. For example, car washes that charge a small rent have "fair drains". If you use a high-pressure washer, you must be very careful and use low pressure.
4. Once you have rinsed off all the loose dust and gravel, wash it with a car sponge (you can buy it at a petrol station). The sponge can be used several times and afterwards it is sorted as soft plastic. Västerbottenssåpa is superfatted and therefore also works as a degreaser and makes all strong chemicals superfluous.
The rule is to wash the car – not rub!
Paint is easier to scratch than you think, so be careful. The water should be lukewarm and remember to never use more than 3/4 of the water in the bucket. The last part is dirty, it will release dirt from the sponge every time you rinse it, so change the water when 1/4 remains. The sponge should be rinsed in the bucket often, rather once too often than once too little!
– 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 film that goes with this blog. Exterior plastic details will be very nice from the soap, the fat in the soap makes them both clean, shiny and stylish.
Household tips for the car – The windscreen wipers should be replaced as soon as they become bad, bad wiper blades are a traffic hazard. But if you need to "freshen them up" a little, take some hand sanitizer and lubricate them with it and they will get a little new life!
( Another tip is to choose more practical clothes if you are not going to photograph for a blog 😉 )
How do you remove insects that have gotten stuck in the front of the car?
Insects are a problem and they can sit really tight in the front of the car. Work up a foam of the soap and let it work for a while, then just wipe and rinse.
The rims, the car's jewels!
The rims are often called the car's jewels. The jewels, the rims, often get asphalt stains, so you need to brush them with a rim brush and soap.
The same principle applies here: Fat dissolves fat. The asphalt is greasy, so the soap dissolves the asphalt stains if it is allowed to work for a little while.
Note that this with a rim brush is good because you have to get the entire rim clean. If you miss something inside the rim, you will get an imbalance in the wheel and it will be felt when you then drive.
Rinse the car and the rims and you're done!
If you want to wax the car, that's fine, choose a good product – read the contents list and ask in the store. If you want a little shortcut .... a "household trick" is at the end of the film!
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Questions and answers
- Why is it important to remove all loose dust and gravel before you start washing the car?
By first removing loose dust and gravel, you reduce the risk of scratching the paint during the washing process, which is especially important as water can act as an abrasive surface.
- How can you effectively remove insects that have gotten stuck on the front of the car?
- Why is it important to use a rim brush when cleaning the rims?
A rim brush is necessary to reach all parts of the rim and ensure that it is properly cleaned. Missed spots can lead to imbalance in the wheel and affect the driving experience.
- What can you use to clean the windows?
We recommend our Window cleaning spray for glass and mirrors and Microfiber cloth for windows!