Car Valeting Guide
Exterior Care
Washing
Essential Equipment
Wash Mitt
When applying water and shampoo to your vehicle, avoid using rags, old t-shirts etc because (a) they are so thin than you can easily exert too much force onto the wash surface and inadvertently push surface dirt around instilling “washing swirls", and (b) they do not release trapped dirt easily - so when you 'rinse', you are more likely to transfer dirt back onto your 'clean' vehicle.
We prefer genuine wool wash mitts. They are soft, hold lots of water and car wash shampoo and rinse cleanly.
'Two Bucket' Washing
A great piece of advise is to always use two buckets when washing a car - one for the soapy car wash water, the other for clean rinse water so you can rinse your mitt. After you wash down you car with car wash shampoo, just rinse your wash mitt in the clear water. This keeps those dirt particles you just picked up from the vehicle surface from going back into the clean car wash solution and being picked up again by the wash mitt.
Bucket Guard
Bucket guards are round plastic grates which sit on the bottom of your bucket and allow dirt and grit to pass through the holes in the surface.
This great little invention means that your wash mitt does not pick up dirt and grit when you dip it in the bucket.
Car Shampoo
Modern high quality car wash shampoos clean a car’s surface and enhance the gloss but leave the underlying car wax or sealant intact.
Cheap “no name” bulk clearance store soaps lack many of the refinements of the more “boutique” line of products. The high end car wash shampoos tend to cost more but they are also more concentrated for if you do the math, you may find that you are actually getting a better deal with the better car wash shampoo.
Drying Towel
Currently the two most popular options out there for drying are microfibre towels and synthetic PVA towels.
The PVA “synthetic chamois” towels are the small rubbery towels used by divers and swimmers at the Olympics. They are generally smaller and rubber-like in feel. They hold a large amount of water, wring out easily, and last a very long time.
We use two microfibre towels to dry vehicle to ensure a spot and streak free finish. The first towel picks up the majority of water and the second towel picks up residual moisture. Like shampoos, you tend to get what you pay for with the more expensive products being of higher quality and durability.
Rinsing
A jet wash with an effective nozzle is an important part of your car wash procedure and especially important when rinsing your car to get the water to 'sheet off' which will cut down on drying time and the possibility of water spots.
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