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Washing & Detailing Preperation
Washing should be a part of your weekly routine. Washing a vehicle removes grime and dirt build up that clings to your vehicles surface. A routine washing program is essential to keeping the exterior surfaces from excessive dulling, leading to deterioration of the vehicles finish. A proper washing or detailing preparation can improve the entire detailing process.
GETTING STARTED: As with most detailing procedures, always avoid direct sunlight when washing any vehicle. This ensures that sunlight will not increase the surface temperature. This increase can allow water spots to magnify, burning alkali deposits onto the surfaces. Collect all the cleaners and chemicals that you will be using in this process. Also collect gloves and safety goggles, and remember to work in a well-ventilated area.
Always start washing process with the tire/wheels and the fender wells. It is important to not get the vehicle wet at this time. A wet vehicle needs to be kept wet once it is been saturated. This can be a distraction while cleaning the wheels and fender wells. Cleaning wheels/tires and fender wells can be somewhat time consuming.
FENDER WELLS: Start cleaning fender wells by spraying with a Cleaner or Degreaser. Apply cleaner or de-greaser and allow to dwell for a few minutes. Keeping fender wells clean and dirt free, is good insurance from the collection of moisture and road salt. These contaminates can lead to underbody rust (A visit from the troublesome tin worm). After allowing cleaner to dwell, scrub with a long handled brush and rinse. On heavy soiled vehicles, repeating the above process may be necessary. An electric pressure washer may also assist in this cleaning process.
WHEEL CLEANING: Routine cleaning of a vehicles wheels is essential for their longevity. Hot brake dust attaches itself onto a vehicles wheels. If left un-cleaned this dust will permanently bond with the wheel and make cleaning troublesome or even impossible. On warm vehicles, allow the wheels to cool prior to cleaning. If the vehicles brakes are hot, cooling with water may warp brake rotors. Spray cleaner onto the wheel, agitate cleaner with a soft brush or wash mitt specifically intended for wheels, and rinse. DO NOT ALLOW TO DRY ON WHEEL. Never use paint wash mitt on wheels. Follow manufacture instructions on wheel cleaners. For heavy soiled vehicles, an electric pressure washer may assist this cleaning process.
Use the wheel cleaner best designed for your type of wheel!
-Refer to wheel polishing for finishing techniques.
TIRE CLEANING: Cleaning tires will remove a browning effect on the surface. This is caused by road oils, grime and brake dust. Use an appropriate tire/white wall cleaner. Scrub with a soft nylon brush and rinse.
WHITE WALLS and RAISED WHITE LETTERED TIRES: Cleaning white walls will brighten the overall effect of the tire. Use the same cleaner used on tires. Spray, Scrub white walls with a brass bristled brush and rinse.
DOOR JAMBS: This is a great way to remove grease build up around strikers and door hinges. Spray door jambs with a degreaser concentrating on one door jamb at a time. Be careful not to use a de-greaser that will stain painted surfaces. If unsure, dilute solution to reduce potency and test in an inconspicuous spot. Agitate with a small soft nylon brush. Carefully rinse not allowing water to splatter into interior. Remember to re-lube hinges and strikers to replenish lost lubricants.
TRIM CLEANING: Any exterior trim that has any accumulation of dirt build-up needs to be cleaned of its grime. Black plastic bumpers trim panels, and convertible tops all attract soiling. Use a heavy-duty top /interior cleaner diluted to its recommended ratio. Spray on to trim, scrub with a firm (not hard) bristled brush & rinse immediately. Use caution around painted surfaces as not to scratch them. Be aware that on some acrylic enamel or single stage painted surfaces that have a visible amount of oxidation, some staining may occur. These stains can be polished, so only clean trim when prepared to polish paint when necessary.
WASHING CONVERTIBLE TOPS: Convertible tops are comprised of two materials: Vinyl and Canvas. Using a vinyl convertible top cleaner with a stiff bristled scrub brush can effectively clean vinyl tops. Wet the entire vehicle as not to allow the cleaner to stain any painted surface. Spray top cleaner onto the top in a small section, and scrub thoroughly using an appropriate scrub brush. Rinse, inspect and repeat as necessary. Canvas tops are much more fragile than vinyl. Canvas tops must be rinsed with a hose to remove dirt and contaminates. They may be washed with a canvas top cleaner and rinsed thoroughly to remove trapped dirt. Be sure to rinse thoroughly. Do not scrub a canvas top with a scrub brush, as it can damage the surface. It is a good idea to use a fabric top protector periodically to aid in the water repellency and stain protection.
WASHING PAINT: Start the paint-washing step by preparing a clean 5-gallon bucket with the appropriate amount of car wash soap (approximately 1 oz per gallon). Fill the bucket 2/3 with water and add a cleaned wash mitt. Next, prepare a second clean 5-gallon bucket with fresh water. Use this second bucket to rinse the wash mitt before re-soaping in the other bucket. This will keep your soaping bucket cleaner and allow the soap to last longer. Filling each bucket 2/3 with water will allow dirt to fall to the bottom of the bucket and away from wash mitt when rinsing and re-soaping. DO NOT USE DISH SOAP. This type of soap will strip any protective finish from the paint. Dish soap may also streak the finish. After the wash bucket has been prepared, give the vehicle a thorough rinsing. DO NOT USE A PRESSURE WASHER. Using pressure can embed dirt particles into the paint. When washing, use only light pressure. Heavy pressure will lead to paint scratches and dull the finish. Start with the top of the vehicle and work towards the bottom. This insures that dirt from a lower panel will not be transferred to upper surfaces. It is recommended to wash a small area at a time before rinsing. This assures that soap will not dry, causing a buildup. Many times a different wash mitt will be used on lower surfaces. This will keep an upper panel wash mitt from being contaminated. A particularly dirty vehicle may need to be washed twice. Rinse thoroughly. Pay attention to cracks & crevices where soap may still be present.
PAINT SOILING BUILD-UP: Removing paint soiling build-up requires a paint safe chemical that will exfoliate dirt particles from the painted surface. This technique works effectively around emblems and paint edges where washing is commonly overlooked or difficult to wash. When using the specified chemical, this process is recommended by all U.S. auto manufactures. Test in an inconspicuous spot on a freshly washed vehicle to test paint compatibility. Spray or wash in small areas (see Manufacture instructions). It is best to concentrate on one body panel at a time. Agitate with a soft toothbrush or bug sponge. Be careful not to scratch paint. Rinse thoroughly. Do not allow to dry on the surface. Inspect to be sure that all soiling build-up has been properly removed. Redo any stubborn areas. When finished, be sure to re-wash vehicle to neutralize any residue that may still be present.
DRYING: To dry vehicle use a synthetic chamois starting with top surfaces. Synthetic chamois are more absorbent & softer then natural leather chamois. Many detailers differ about what to use to dry a vehicle. Some say it needs to be dried using cotton towels. A synthetic chamois will do a better job of absorbing moisture and drying the surface as long as you thoroughly rinse the chamois out after every use.
Drying is best accomplished as a four-part process:
First: Remove all large amount of water
Second: Remove all remaining amounts of water
Third: Dry door jams (use a soft cotton towel for this area)
A hidden pocket of dirt may find its way onto the towel. This would render a chamois unusable for future exterior washes.
Fourth: Finish the drying process using compressed air to chase water from trim etc.
Special Note: When drying a vehicle that has wire wheels, be sure to thoroughly dry the spokes where they enter the rim and the hub. This can be accomplished by using compressed air to chase out this moisture. If you don't have a air compressor, be sure to drive the vehicle to chase out this moisture. Failing to do so can damage the wheel and cause premature rusting.