How to Properly Wash and Wax Your Vehicle from Acura Carland

Keeping your vehicle properly washed and waxed is a key to maintain your vehicle’s new car shine. Applying quality car care products in the correct order with frequent washes and waxes are the best way to maintain your vehicle’s exterior finish. While weekly washes are important, other steps may only have to be completed every few months or even annually.

One important element to keep in mind when washing and waxing your vehicle is to have it parked in a cool, shady spot. This can prevent water spots from drying on your car before you get an opportunity to dry it off. When waxing, it will also allow you to expend less effort when using the waxes on a cool surface.

The quality of the products used in washing and waxing your vehicle is also important in maintaining your car’s finish. Using well-cared-for microfiber cloths is important due to the fact that they are gentler than a cotton towel or chamois. Rough material can create slight scratches or ruts that will accumulate over time. Having lots of microfiber is vital to the cleaning and waxing process. In addition, poly foam wax applicators are ideal for achieving even, thin coats of wax. They are durable, absorbent, washable, and reusable. They are also relatively inexpensive, which means you can toss and replace when they become aged. Other items to have before beginning work on your vehicle are:

• Genuine car wash product

• Genuine car wax product

• A clay bar  

The washing of your vehicle is important in removing the loose contaminants that slowly accumulate on the surface of your vehicle’s finish, making a gritty residue that can cause scratches in later steps if not properly removed. Remember to use genuine car wash products. Normal dish soaps, laundry soaps, and household cleaners are designed to dissolve and remove grease and oils, which could damage the car’s finish. Starting from the top, wash thoroughly, working your way down, then dry car completely with microfiber drying towels. Weekly washes of this type are recommended. For touch-ups between washes, use a spray on detailer product. These products slough off light dirt, but offers no protection.

Roughly every 6 months, you will want to follow up your wash with a detailed dirt and blemish removal. If you do not notice any blemishes or defects, you can skip this step.

1. Begin this process by inspecting your vehicle’s paint for above-the-surface contaminants, like bird droppings, tree sap, or pollen.

2. Use a clay bar designed for car care to shear off and remove these contaminants. Rub it over the area affected, kneading and turning it to expose a clean area of the bar when needed.

3. Next, look for below-the-surface defects such as etching from acid rain, swirls, or oxidation from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

4. For these issues, use a cleaner with a mild abrasive on a microfiber-covered or foam applicator pad to apply, using small circular, overlapping strokes.

5. Cleaning a section of the vehicle at a time, remove the cleaner with microfiber towels folded in fourths. Use one side to break up and wipe away the hazy product.

6. Then flip the towel over to a clean side to remove additional residue. Do not use hard pressure as this can damage your vehicle’s paint.

There are also a number of wax varieties. Which wax you choose should depend on what your are looking to achieve in your car care process.

• Liquid wax is very easy to use but does not last as long as soft or hard waxes. It makes for a great replacement wax if you are washing your vehicle with a wax-free detergent or soap. It also works well for a touch-up between professional waxings.

• Soft wax is light and fluffy, making it easy to apply and remove. Some are mixed with a light cleaner, but it is still important to was the vehicle thoroughly beforehand. Applied with applicator pads or a microfiber towel, you can simply wipe on the wax, following the contours of the car’s surface. Just allow it to dry to a haze, then wipe the haze away.

• Hard or paste wax provides the most protection. It should be used for semi-annual wax jobs. When using, it is important to always do a small area at a time to avoid letting the wax harden to a point where it becomes difficult to remove. It should also be applied with applicators or microfiber towels

Remember that when applying wax or paint sealant, it is vital to ensure that the vehicle is completely dry. Water droplets on the paint can cause the product to streak and will become unnecessarily difficult to buff off. Always apply the thinnest coat of wax possible. Thicker coats can make wax difficult to remove and streaky and will not provide more shine or depth.

1. Buff on one thin coat and check how long that coat must cure before applying another (typically 12-18 hours). Buff off the first coat before applying a second

2. Buff haze away with a microfiber cloth to give paint a great shine as you remove wax residue

3. If you get streaks or uneven shine, it can easily be corrected with quick detail spray. Mist the surface, then buff away the problem