The right car care when washing by hand

A lot of car owners want to save the money for the car wash and decide to take charge of sponge and cleaning cloth themselves. That way they also know that everything was cleaned properly and not a single spot is left dirty. But when an owner opts for manual car washing enough time has to be arranges as well as necessary utensils, as an optimal and lasting manual car wash needs to be executed with system and precision. Otherwise there will be twice the work and the car has to be washed again a few days later. In our guide we will inform you about the proper car care and the best utensils as well as about cleaning from inside to outside and from top to bottom. The legal aspects will be illuminated as well. Manual car wash is only allowed under certain circumstances and can turn into expenditure when unaware of the conjuncture. Therefore please familiarize yourself with the water management laws before cleaning your car in order to avoid unpleasantness.

Washing your car by hand using the proper utensils

Certain equipment should be available when washing your car by hand, as a car can’t be cleaned efficiently and thoroughly with just a bucket of water and a sponge. Ideally you have two buckets ready: One for the clean water and one in which you can rinse out the sponge, cloth or washing mitt. If you only use one bucket, dirty particles on the cloth can lead to paint and window scratches.

Tip Number 1: Use pale buckets to make the soiling level visible in the water.

Special car shampoos are available commercially, e.g. by Kärcher or SWIZÖL. In distinction to regular detergents these shampoos do not damage the vehicle’s wax layer. Furthermore the detergent’s degreaser damages the paint in the long term. Using microfiber clothes and washings mitts does not only help you reach difficult spots such as the grill but they also save the paint at the same time. You should keep a vacuum cleaner and dust clothes available for cleaning the interior.

First inside, then outside. The proper sequence of a manual car wash

Washing by hand starts with removing all items that do not belong in the car. Old slips, empty to go cups, and newspapers should be removed, to make a hearty car care possible. It is recommended to take out the car mats and brush them off outdoors, resp. clean them. The surfaces of the interior, e.g. dashboard, steering wheel or center console, can be wiped off either with a dust cloth or a damp cloth. Before the upholstery and the floor are vacuumed, window cleaning is next on the agenda. Regular window cleaner and paper towels are sufficient.

Tip Number 2: For one thing striation free windows can be obtained by using newsprint; for another thing the sun is not allowed to shine on the windows when cleaning.

Does your car have leather interior? Special maintenance products are needed for the optimal manual washing to prevent the leather from becoming brittle and cracking. After the interior has been cleaned rigorously the vehicle body will be freed from dirt. Depending on the amount of dirt, a prewash may be necessary. Thereby the majority of dirt is simply wiped off with a sponge and water.

Tip Number 3: Car wax keeps the dirt off the vehicle longer

„Soap” your car thoroughly with the shampoo and a washing mitt and rinse everything off with clear water afterwards, do not use rinse aid as this damages the paint. In case you do not want to omit the engine compartment during your car care, please remember you are only allowed to clean the engine compartment in places where an oil separator is available and the engine oil can be disposed professionally. Dirt is best removed from the engine block with a pressure washer; steam should be avoided as it may damage the electronics. When talking about car care, a thorough wash by hand also includes shiny paint. The paint will shine thanks to paint cleaner or paint polisher. – The latter yet has to be treated with caution. It contains little abrasives, which can leave unpleasant marks when used improperly or when misapplied.

Clean car thanks to manual car wash, but penalty notice in the mailbox?

While you can expect a shiny vehicle, you may also be ready for severe penalty when you decide upon manual car care and wash your car by hand in front of your house. Fees up to fifty thousand Euros are possible, in case you do not comply with the water management rules. Consider this: If dirty water can seep into groundwater because of unsurfaced ground (e.g. garden), permission for washing by hand in accordance with the law has to be obtained prior to washing. If there is no risk of groundwater pollution, because for example a road absorbs the dirty water, the law does not apply however in this case the municipal by law settles the matter.

Is a car wash better than illegally washing the car yourself?

Roll-over car washes and car washes clean the car thoroughly and quickly. With the use of large brushes and special detergents the car is clean before you have filled the bucket with water for washing your car. I heard a friend in the US has used a pressure washing company in Missouri City. He told me that if you don’t have the time, its a good idea to take advantage of a similar service. But I digress. For many car owners, this is the deciding factor that convinces them to use professional cleaning for car care. Basic programs can be done for less than 25 AED and this is what keeps the financial point of both options in balance. In malls, such as Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall or Abu Dhabi Mall, there are several car cleaning companies offering a basic exterior hand wash for 20 AED in the parking lots. Various cleaning supplies and water costs the consumer just as much. But when the owner washes his car himself, this benefits the environment: Going through the car wash uses about 600 litres of water, which corresponds to twenty times the amount needed when completing it yourself. There is also less risk of damage to the paint job. Also, only the car’s exterior is cleaned at the car wash, the interior must be cleaned by hand. More for cleaning via car wash can be found in our car wash guide. Its also important to note that these car washes will have insurance to make sure that if anything goes wrong your fully covered. My friend was telling me how her car washing company was insured by Insurance 4 MotorTrade and tells me they gave her a fantastic policy.

If a car is being prepared for a vehicle assessment because it is being sold, a quick trip to the car wash can be enough to present a clean vehicle, but an extensive hand wash has the advantage that the interior also shines – that does not only make a good impression on the potential buyer but may result in a more profitable sale from professional car dealerships such as SellCarGetCash.com. A well-kept vehicle often gets a higher appraisal value thanks to the care.