Best Exterior Car Care Practices

As we previously wrote, there are a few reasons why you should keep your vehicle clean, both inside and out. A clean car (think your windshield or brake rotors) is a safer car. A clean car will hold better resale value. A clean car will help your enjoy your driving from point A to point B a little more. All great reasons. Now let’s get into how to properly detail your car. This blog article will focus on exterior car care.

Each section will be broken into steps.

Wheel/Tire Care

1. Rinse the wheels and tires. A hose is fine, a pressure washer is better. Optimum pressure is around 2,200-2,800 PSI. More importantly, keep a distance of at least 18 inches. This will prevent the pressure of the water chipping the surface.
2. Wash the wheel and tire with a scrub brush. Using a tool that can get deeper into the wheel well is best. We recommend something like this.
3. Rinse. Dry immediately if in direct sunlight.
4. Protect the tire with a non-greasy product.

Washing Your Vehicle

1. If possible, wash and dry your vehicle in the shade and not in direct sunlight. This will make your job much easier, and prevent water spots on the paint and windows.
2. Thoroughly rinse the vehicle, starting from the top and working to the bottom.
3. Using a gentle sponge (the $1 sponges at your local hardware store work best) and a clean bucket of water and car wash soap, start by washing one panel at a time, roof first.
4. Wash each panel, then thoroughly rinse before going to the next. Always work from top to bottom.
5. Once all panels are thoroughly washed, dry with a microfiber drying towel. We recommend microfiber drying towels as they are more gentle on the paint. We do not recommend microfiber towels for washing, as they trap dirt more easily than generic sponges.

Once you have washed and dried your vehicle, we recommend applying a spray wax for basic UV protectant. Many people like to wash their vehicle themselves. For those who don’t, Evans Auto offers full car wash and detailing services. Feel free to call us to learn more or schedule an appointment.