You may think a car washing is as simple as just grabbing the sponge, dipping it in a bucket of fairy liquid mix and off you go, but this is not the correct way. In fact if you’re washing your car this way, then you can expect the paint to look marred and could damage the paint completely. In this article I am going to tell four things that you should avoid when washing your car to extend the life of your car’s finish.

1. Don’t Wash the Car in Direct Sunlight

Perhaps the biggest mistake you can make when washing your car. Washing the car on direct sunlight can have a harmful effect on the paint. Each droplet of water will act like a magnifying glass. This produces small laser like beams that will make tiny pits on your car paint. The end result is an early chipping of car’s paint particularly in the front part.

2. Don’t Use household cleaners

Using household cleaners as a substitute for car wash preparations is not a good idea. Household cleaners like dishwashing soap, hand soap or window cleaner contain powerful stripping chemicals that can destroy your car’s paint if used excessively. You can use car wash preparations or shampoos that do not cost much higher than household cleaners.

3. Don’t Allow to dry Your Car in Air

Allowing you vehicle to dry without your involvement can cause water etching, which detracts from a shiny finish. This is caused by higher content of minerals in tap water. The water marks can be nasty and be very difficult to get rid of.

4. Don’t Forget to clean Your Wheels

A greater care is required to a car’s wheels because they get more wear than any other part of a car. Many of us ignore to clean them because they will get soiled again as soon as we drive. However if you leave them unclean for a long period they can be very difficult to get rid of. You could use a pressure washer to clean the wheels.

If you start to avoid the things listed above while washing, your car will reward you with a long lasting finish. This might also help you prolong the life span of your car and increase it’s resell value. So ensure to take care of your vehicle’s finish by using these tips.

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