While keeping a car clean is an essential step in its maintenance, you should also ensure it is safe for your vehicle. Inappropriate washing with poorly chosen car shampoos and other accessories can easily become the arch-enemy of the paint job. This article will highlight the costly mistakes many car owners make while washing their new vehicles and help you establish a safe car care routine.
Washing the car in the sun
Some car owners expect the scorching sun to help them instantly dry their car after washing. The car surface will indeed dry up fast, but in most cases, a freshly applied shampoo or the foam it creates will dry on the surface even before you manage to apply it evenly and rinse it off. Unless you use particularly user-friendly car shampoos like the Neutral Creamy Shampoo from the Japanese brand Soft99 – https://soft99store.co.uk/en/16-shampoos, you will end up with stubborn stains and discolouration instead of a shiny and dry car,
Washing the car at a friction-based automatic car wash
Ironically, rotating brushes used at friction-based automatic car washes are a popular cause of scratches, swirls, and other damage not only to the car’s paint but also to its windows. While these brushes are designed to last longer which makes them quite rigid, they also tend to gather sand and other contaminants from cars, which are then rubbed onto the car surface during the washing session. Additionally, they are unable to reach many hidden areas of a vehicle, including indented elements of license plates or certain types of rims.
Washing without proper accessories
A regular bucket and kitchen sponge may not be the best accessories for effective and safe car washing. By using a regular bucket, you risk scratching your car with the dirt particles you have just washed from its surface, while a regular dish sponge may be too harsh for the paint job or less effective in creating the rich foam needed to gently wash your vehicle. A better approach would be to use proper equipment for manual car washing, including a special detailing bucket with a dirt separator and a dedicated sponge, such as the QJUTSU Ultrasoft Sponge. Alternatively, you may prefer a soft washing glove like Soft99’s Mouton Master.
Applying harsh chemicals to a protective layer
New cars often have a protective layer, such as a ceramic coating or wax, which can be easily stripped of their beneficial properties if the vehicle is treated with harsh chemicals. Excessively acidic or alkaline car shampoos can have a detrimental effect on the protective layer, making a neutral product with a pH of 7, like the Neutral Creamy Shampoo mentioned earlier, the safest choice.
Using dishwashing liquid
Dishwashing detergents, especially those with strong oil removal properties, can also be harmful to your vehicle, affecting its paint, plastic, and rubber elements. Additionally, such products can add stickiness to the car surface and can be difficult to remove.
Car shampoos – the foundation of your car maintenance
Unfortunately, many popular car washing practices are unsafe for your car. By avoiding the mistakes discussed in this article, you can minimise unnecessary damage to your vehicle. Despite being more time-consuming, manual car washing remains the preferable choice for maintaining your vehicle. However, with a proper choice of an effective and gentle car shampoo and regular cleaning, car care will take much less time and effort.
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