Dare we say that the warm weather is finally here? In true Canadian fashion, the spring temperatures have been swinging wildly and in Ontario, we’ve set records for the coldest day in May. While cold temperatures and snow won’t inspire anyone to wash their car, we’re confident that the warm weather and long weekend on the horizon will see many people out washing their cars.
If you plan on turning your driveway into a DIY auto spa this weekend, we’ve got some tips to help you pull off the perfect wash:
1. Don't Wash In Direct Sunlight
It may be tempting to wash your car in the blazing afternoon sun, but that’s literally the worst time. When it comes to washing cars, the sun isn’t your friend. Even if you have the best tools and high-end soap, we’re willing to bet that you’ll still be left with streaking and residue. You’ll have the sun to thank for that.
What’s the fix? Opt to wash your car on a cloudy day or in the early morning before the sun gets too strong. The heat from the sun causes the soap to dry on your car before you can rinse it off completely which will leave you with a milky looking residue and spots. Switching to an overcast day or a time when the sun isn’t as strong will yield exponentially better results
2. Use Soap That Is Meant For A Car
Using your Dawn dish soap might be tempting, but we don’t recommend it. It will get the job done, but can strip the surface of key paint protecting elements. You wouldn’t use dish soap to wash your hair, so why use it to wash your car?
We use specialized commercial grade soap for our detailing clients but you don’t need to go that far for a basic at-home wash. Car wash soaps are readily available at your local hardware store, Canadian Tire or even Walmart. Our go-to store bought product is the Simoniz Gel Car Wash – you can get it at your local Canadian Tire for around $10. It will last you forever so it’s money well spent.
3. Rinse It Twice
It may look like you got all of the soap the first time, but looks can be deceiving. Doing a double rinse can dramatically decrease the amount of soap residue left behind. Focus your attention on the mirrors, door handles and other crevices where the soap could be trapped. You’ll be surprised at what you see.
To finish it all off, you could dry your car with a microfibre drying towel. Our favourite is the Maguiar’s Water Magnet Microfibre Towel. This will help to achieve a spot-free finish. Pro tip: start with the chrome areas of your grill and lift gate – those will be the first to show watermarks.
Going to give these tips a try? Tag us on social media, we’d love to see them in action!
