Summer is winding down, but you may still want your car looking good before the season ends.
With new car prices approaching $50,000, many owners want to keep their vehicles looking their best for years to come.
According to Consumer Reports, “frequent washing is also the best way to maintain a new-car finish and detect blemishes and other potential issues, such as rust or loosening trim.” The website said washing a car by hand can also be therapeutic for some drivers.
The USA TODAY Cars team looked at Consumer Reports tips for hand-washing to make sure you don’t accidentally damage your vehicle.
Choose the Right Supplies
1. Choose the right soap. Consumer Reports said owners should avoid household cleaning agents like hand soap or dishwashing detergent on car exteriors because they are not formulated for car paint and could strip off the protective wax that is on most cars.
Instead, Consumer Reports recommends a dedicated car-wash product that is milder and designed for use on car paint. Suds should be applied with a large, soft natural sponge, the website said.
2. Don’t wash your car when the exterior is hot. It’s already hot outside. Don’t make it worse by washing your car while its body is still hot.
Consumer Reports advises against washing a car immediately after driving or after it has been parked in direct sunlight because heat can cause soap and water to dry too quickly, leaving behind spots and deposits.
Keep Dirt From Scratching the Paint
3. Use a separate sponge to clean the tires. Your tires do your car’s dirty work. They’re rolling on roads nobody would consider clean enough to eat off.
So don’t use the same sponge on your car’s paint that you put on the wheels. Consumer Reports said tires may be coated with sand and other debris that could mar your car’s finish.
4. Move the sponge in straight lines. Car owners of a certain age may be familiar with the phrase “wax on, wax off” from The Karate Kid. It turns out Mr. Miyagi’s instructions for his student, Daniel, in the classic movie are a bit off.
Consumer Reports said that moving the sponge in circles can create “light but noticeable scratches” that are called swirl marks. Also, don’t keep using a sponge after it is dropped on the ground, the magazine recommends.
Rinse and Dry Carefully
5. Rinse before washing. Any good wash should start with a thorough rinse. That’s true for human bodies and cars.
Consumer Reports recommends thoroughly rinsing a car first to remove loose dirt and debris that could cause scratches. If you have one, use an adjustable hose nozzle. Otherwise, a bucket of water works, too.
6. Use soft towels for drying. Consumer Reports said that air drying your car will leave watermarks caused by minerals in hard water. Also, drying with an abrasive towel could leave hairline scratches, the organization said.
The best course is to use a natural or synthetic chamois cloth or soft terry towel and blot the water instead of dragging the towel across the paint, Consumer Reports said. The group said the drying process can be sped up by using a soft squeegee to remove water from the vehicle’s body.
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