What soap should i wash my car with

A dull appearance may occur over time, but this is just the waxes migrating to the surface and actually helps protect the tire. Simple soap and water is all you need for the tires. Do treat your car to a seasonal waxing to help protect it from the elements and give it a like-new shine. See our car wax buying guide for tips and advice on all types of waxes. Get more car maintenance and repair tips from Consumer Reports. Don't wash your car when the body is hot, such as immediately after driving it or after it has been parked in direct sunlight for awhile.

Heat speeds the drying of soap and water, making washing more difficult and increasing the chances that spots or deposits will form. Don't move the sponge in circles. This can create light, but noticeable scratches called swirl marks. Instead, move the sponge lengthwise across the hood and other body panels.

And don't continue using a sponge that's dropped on the ground without thoroughly rinsing it out. The sponge can pick up dirt particles that can scratch the paint. Do rinse all surfaces thoroughly with water before you begin washing to remove loose dirt and debris that could cause scratching. Once you begin, concentrate on one section at a time, washing and rinsing each area completely before moving on to the next one. This ensures that you have plenty of time to rinse before the soap dries.

Start at the top, and then work your way around the car. Use a hose without a nozzle and let the water flow over the car from top to bottom. This creates a sheeting action that helps minimize pooling of water. Do work the car-wash solution into a lather with plenty of suds that provide lots of lubrication on the paint surface.

And rinse the sponge often. Using a separate bucket to rinse the sponge keeps dirt from getting mixed into the sudsy wash water. Then check the following:. Start by hosing down the car to loosen and soften any dirt. Avoid using a strong jet of water at this stage as it could move the dirt around and cause scratching.. Hose away the loose dirt and then use your brush to scrub the wheel openings.

Keep scrubbing and rinsing until the water looks clean coming out of the wheel. Do not use a scrubbing brush on the car as it could scrape the paintwork. You may need to change the water or mitt throughout the process if your car is very dirty. Keep the entire car wet with the hose as you complete this.

Keeping the car wet will stop water droplet marks until you are ready to dry the car later. Microfiber towels work best for drying your car but cotton towels will work too. You may need several towels. Starting at the top, wipe and dry the car ensuring that no residue is left and each section is fully dry to prevent rusting. Wax should only ever be applied to a clean, fully dry car.

Waxing your car adds a layer of protection to your paintwork and delays the fading of colour. It will also give your car a shiny finish and keep your car cleaner for longer. Fortunately, there are some DIY car wash solutions available.

You can make your very own car wash soap alternatives at home out of some common household goods. Why not just use a store-bought car wash soap and be done with it? Commercial-grade soaps are convenient and effective. Dishwashing liquid is often touted to be tough on grease and gentle on your hands, which makes it a perfect candidate for use on your car.

However, you need to be careful when using this method. Getting overzealous with the soap can leave unsightly residue. We recommend creating a watered-down soap mixture of one part soap to three parts water. The soap will clean better than you think. But that produces an issue. As far as potency and efficiency goes, this is one of the better options available.

Laundry detergent is designed to bring out deep-rooted stains while keeping your clothes unmarred. And it can do the same for your car as well. However, depending on the brand of detergent, this is easier said than done. Even after stirring it around, you may still have grainy bits. This can be prevented, though. When mixing up your DIY car wash soap, add the detergent powder first.

Next pour in some hot water. Afterward, you can fill up the rest of the bucket and agitate to get suds. Or just use liquid detergent.