Correct car wash by hand - this is how you do it!

Thomas Wachsmuth March 17, 2023 Tips, products, information & Co.

Reading time 6 Min.

If you value your car, it is of course important that it always makes a nice, clean and well-kept impression. In this way, your own vehicle not only looks better from the outside, but it also increases your well-being when you take a seat in a tidy and dirt-free car. Of course there is always the option to wash the outside carwash visit. However, this option is only recommended to a limited extent, since there is a risk that certain types of brushes will leave small scratches on the paintwork and even on the glass. In addition, shampoos with aggressive chemicals that can damage the paintwork are sometimes used in the car wash. The car by hand So getting rid of dirt has proven to be more effective. So it is recommended to clean the vehicle manually in the car wash.

Hand car wash

In this guide we reveal which utensils for the outside wash of the vehicle are needed, go to the correct procedure in the Hand wash and explain what to look out for so that the car shines like new again.

What is required for the outside wash?

In order to optimally clean the car by hand, you cannot avoid the right accessories. It should therefore be a Self-service washing area be visited in the vicinity where manual car washing is allowed, since that Washing on private property is not permitted in most parts of Germany. You should also have the following car wash utensils within reach:

a sufficiently large bucket of water (at best two)
a leather rag
a car sponge
a car shampoo
a rim cleaner

Pack these cleaning supplies in the car and drive to the car wash. Park your car in a free box and make sure the windows and doors are secure locked are. Now we will explain to you briefly and concisely how to start washing your car.

Remove coarse dirt from the car with the prewash!

Start the laundromat by inserting matching change (or a coin) into the machine. Now you can get your car in the pits for a thorough prewash with the Pressure Washer undergo. Select the respective program on the machine. First you use the function with foam (is often called main wash/prewash) and clean the vehicle. Then use the "Rinse" program to rinse off any dirt and shampoo residue. Even stubborn residues on the paint should now be removed.

The high-pressure cleaner enables a selective approach so that the dirt is not pulled across the paintwork, which is an advantage. As already described above, the self-service box system should be closed after rinsing. Ideally drive not continue with the manual brush program, otherwise you will imitate the effect of a car wash and this can possibly lead to small scratches on the paintwork caused by small stones in the brush.

Manual car wash: This is how rim cleaning works

After pre-cleaning and removing coarse dirt, it's now time for the rims. It is easiest when they are still a little damp. Spray the rims with the rim cleaner first on one side of the vehicle and then on the other. After an exposure time of one to two minutes (depending on the manufacturer) you can then foam up the cleaner rim by rim with the sponge. Now clean the rims carefully and thoroughly down to the last corner and thus remove the unpopular brake dust.

Then the rims only have to be cleaned with a high-pressure cleaner and they look like new. It's a good idea to treat the rims on one side of the car first, and not all at once, because if you let the cleaner dry for too long, there's a risk of it ruining the rims' painted finish. It is therefore better to feel your way step by step or tire by tire. Thereafter, at regular intervals (every 3-4 car washes) by the way one rim sealant , the liquid and enriched version of the African BLACK SOAP is recommended.

Attention: Chrome rims, high-gloss sealed rims, etc. should only be cleaned with rim cleaners specially designed for these surfaces.

Washing your car by hand – this is how you do it right

After your rims have enjoyed the care, you can now devote yourself to the paintwork of the vehicle. Fill the bucket you brought with you with enough water and a suitable amount of car shampoo. Use the sponge to clean every single part of the body. This means, for example, that you wash the driver's door first, then rinse the sponge in the bucket and then remove dirt from the mudguard, for example. You can proceed in this order until all vehicle parts are clean. However, do not apply too much pressure during the wash to avoid small scratches on the paintwork. Now rinse the whole car from top to bottom with clear water and the high-pressure cleaner until no more foam can be seen.

Tip: Ideally, you have two buckets with you and use them Two bucket washing method

Dry! A shiny vehicle without stripes.

The car is characterized by its cleanliness through the steps mentioned above, but it is still wet. This should change urgently to counteract water stains and streaks on the paintwork. Spots of water can be seen quickly and are extremely unsightly, especially on dark-colored vehicles. So pull with a leather rag or with a special drying towel like that Viamonti's Drying Towel Max 2.0 got the water from the car from top to bottom. After you have dried the entire vehicle with the leather rag / cloth, you can look forward to a streak-free shine. So you have achieved the same effect with simple means as in a car wash.

Tip: After every third or fourth vehicle wash is one wax treatment recommended and once a year ceramic finish.

Of course, that wasn't the end of it!

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