There are a few secrets to washing your car that you can do to help prevent damaging your paint. This article goes through 3 things that you should avoid when washing your car to prolong the life of your car paint’s finish.

Do Not Use the Same Mitts for Upper and Lower Parts of the Car

If you use mitts then it is best to have two of them. One for the upper half of the car and one for the lower half is a good way to ensure that dirt on the lower portion will not contaminate the more visible upper part. A lot of cars have a line that runs through the level of the headlight that will help you distinguish from the lower or higher parts.

You can also look at the sides of your car when it is dirty. You will notice that from the bottom of the car up to a certain point will be abrasive. Or even contain grains of asphalt. Take great care that these grains do not make their way up to the upper half of the car. As they can cause deep and visible scratches on your car’s finish.

Using two mitts or car washing towels can help you with this.

Do Not Allow Your Car to Air Dry

Allowing you car to dry without your intervention can leave nasty water marks on your paint. This is caused by tap water with higher mineral content. They can be nasty and be very difficult to remove.

No doubt you have seen cars sprinkled with so much of these little white circles.

Do Not Forget to Wash Your Wheels

Wheels and tires are among the dirtiest part of your car. A lot of us neglect to wash them because they will get dirty again as soon as we drive. However if you leave them unwashed for a period of time they can be very difficult to remove.

They will accumulate into a greasy paste like layer on your wheels. This can take hours to scrub off. To avoid this wash your car’s wheel regularly with the help of wheel detailing products like brushes.

If you learn to avoid the things mentioned above your car will reward you with a finish that will be shiny and free of damage for a long time. This might even help you earn a few dollars when it is time to sell your car. So make sure to take care of your car’s finish by being well informed.

If you’d like to get your car as shiny and as-new looking as when you first purchased it, you could take it to an auto detailer and ask for a thorough cleaning and polishing, but that isn’t your only option. You can do a great job by washing and waxing the car yourself. Follow the tips below and you’ll soon have an automobile that literally glows as it sits in your driveway.

Choose a good day for the job, a day neither too hot — because you shouldn’t wax your car in the hot sun or when the surface is hot to the touch — nor too wet since you should make sure your car is completely dry before you place any wax upon it.

It’s a good idea to wash your car before waxing it. Dirt can be gritty and can damage your car’s finish.

Perhaps the most important step in the do-it-yourself car waxing process is choosing the right wax product for the job. Chances are, a non-abrasive wax is your best choice since most cars have clear coat finishes today and a non-abrasive product won’t scratch the paint. If your vehicle is older, with oxidized paint, consider purchasing a polishing compound so that you can take off the top layer of that faded and oxidized paint.

Move your car to the shade or wait for a cloudy day before you set to work. Next, take a decently thick sponge, dampen it, and squirt a teaspoon-size amount of wax onto it. Rub the wax on the car in a circular motion. Cover the entire car, work in sections moving from one end to the other and from the top down to the sides. Be careful not to put the wax on too thickly. Less is definitely more when it comes to car wax.

Once you’ve done the whole car, go back to where you started. The wax should now be dry. Take a microfiber towel– and wipe down your car, again moving your hand in a circular motion, but in the opposite direction from when you put the wax on. You’ll now be buffing the car and removing the wax.

Once you’re done, get a clean towel or soft cloth and go over your car again to remove any residue, streaks or spots.

And then be sure to step back and admire the work you’ve done. You’ve polished your car to a wonderful shine and, by doing it yourself, saved yourself a decent amount of money.