How to wash your car… It’s complicated
So…. do you really need a detail company to wash your car for you? After 7 years of building my expertise and my business from Texas to Covington, LA. I’ve found that some people LOVE washing their own vehicle, or they just think it’s so simple that they couldn’t possibly pay someone else to do it!
As someone who is very DIY driven…. I totally understand how you feel! Washing your vehicle is very therapeutic and soothing for many people, but as a detailer… it can make me cringe when people underestimate what it takes to maintain the value of their own vehicles properly…. So, if you choose to stay true to your DIY Values, here are a few tips to achieve a more professional, detailed approach to washing your car!
Use REAL car shampoo… Dawn is a thing of the past and is very, very harsh on your paint. There are too many readily available options around the corner DESIGNED for car paint to start cutting corners. Plus, the Southern Louisiana heat doesn’t play any games in the summertime. If you are going to have any kind of soap dry to the paint, please let it be car shampoo!
Make sure you rinse your wash mitt… It is important that while you are hand washing your vehicle that you keep it '“scratch-free” right? Just dunking it in your bucket to get it wet again is not releasing enough of the dirt out of the mitt. If you have 2 buckets, them use them…. One for thorough rinsing, and one with the soapy water.
If you can find a decent spray wax for your drying process, it can help with water spotting on the paint. Something like Girots Ceramic Speed Wipe or Turtle Wax Ceramic Detailer are 2 good options to use that are budget friendly and efficient forms of short term protection. If you use beach towels to dry your car, (I know some of you reading this use one…) Its ok, just make sure it is a soft towel and do not apply any pressure to the towel when drying. Spray your detail spray on the panel you want to dry, throw the towel out flat and pull it across the car in a strait motion. Try to keep the towel off of the ground at all costs. if there is a little water streaking, that is still better that water spots….. I almost forgot, if the towel has a tag make sure to rip it off or fold your towel where it wont touch!
Follow these tips and you are on your way to becoming a professional detailer! This alone can change your car washing life without a detailer…. Sounds weird coming from a detailer right? Well… that’s because I car about your vehicle just as much as you do. The truth is, to truly protect your vehicles paint for the long run down in Covington, Louisiana a ceramic coating is the way to go. More on that in future blog posts! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
