The following article is a guide to help DIYers practice proper hand washing techniques to ensure that they minimize the amount of potential scratching and marring that can be caused to their vehicle.
As professional detailers we always recommend to our clients that if you are going to wash your vehicle on your own that it is hand washed and NOT taken to an automatic car wash with brushes.
Although some car washes may say "soft touch" but majority of the time that's not the case. Over time the brushes in those car wash collect dirt and debris from previous vehicles. Those dirt particles become an abrasive in the brush, coming in contact with your vehicle, and instilling scratches within the paint.
It is always best to avoid those automatic car washes but if that becomes your only option, just be sure that it is TOUCH-LESS only!
Now let's dive deeper into proper hand washing methods to leave your vehicle looking its best. We will be referring to different kinds of equipment in this article, all which are only recommend but not 100% necessary. For example where we may mention pressure washer a regular garden hose can be just as effective.
Two Bucket Method
The two bucket method is one of the most popular and effective wash techniques to minimize scratches. It uses two buckets, one with water and your car shampoo and the other with just water. Each bucket should also have grit guards at the bottom to capture loose dirt. Paired with the two buckets you will also be using a microfiber wash mitt. Not a brush, not a sponge, a microfiber wash mitt will be your best option.
Once you have all your tools ready with your water source as well it is time to start washing! You always want to start off with an initial rinse to take off as much as the loose dirt as possible. If you have access to a pressure washer, great that would be most efficient but it's not required. As a part of your pre rinse, if you have a foam cannon now would be the applicable time to use it. A foam cannon is designed to lift and encapsulate as much dirt possible, removing it off your vehicle as the foam make its way down and onto the ground.
Once your pre rinse is complete you may start hand washing. With your two buckets and you're microfiber wash mitt, you will start by soaking the mitt in the bucket containing the soap solution. It is important that you wash your vehicle from top to bottom and one panel at a time. The bottom of the vehicle is always the dirtiest, therefore doing the opposite will only carry the dirt and contamination from the bottom, to the top.
So, starting from the roof make your way down, washing each panel at a time. In between panels you want to rinse your wash mitt in your second bucket that contains only water. This will ensure that you are not cross contaminating each panel and that your mitt is clean as you make it down the vehicle.
Another very important technique is that you wash your vehicle in STRAIGHT LINES ONLY. Unfortunately circular motions, "wax on, wax off" will only increase the chances of creating swirl marks in your paint. Follow the body lines of your vehicle in straight lines only because straight lines scratches are not only easier to polish out but are much less noticeable than circular swirl marks.
Repeat this process, section by section, until every panel of the vehicle is washed. Finish it off by giving your vehicle a final rinse ensuring that all the excess soap and debris is removed.
Multiple Wash Mitt Method
Another effective hand wash technique that we recommend is the multiple wash mitt method. Instead of using two buckets, you can use a single bucket and 3-4 wash mitts. Each wash mitt will be used for different portions of the vehicle. For example one mitt could be used for the roof, hood, and rear hatch. The second and third mitt for all of the windows and doors. The last mitt for all the bottom bumpers and rockers.
This method will also ensure that you are not cross contaminating the sections that accumulate more dirt with the others. Although, the same rules apply to this method as well. You always want to wash from top to bottom and always using straight lines.
Now, apart from washing your car you need to dry it of course and drying is actually the part where most scratches are created. There are a number of tools on the market that are used for drying that claim they "don't scratch" but that's not always the case. We recommend you avoid using Chamois or squeegees and use an ultra plush microfiber drying towel. Microfiber drying towels have great absorption capability while being gentle on the paint. Just make sure that the towel is edgeless and tag-less for scratch free drying.
Also if your vehicle has a ceramic coating or paint sealant applied, and you are getting great hydrophobic properties. Then your best route would be to use a high pressure blower or compressed air to dry the vehicle!
Overall hand washing your vehicle can be a relaxing and a therapeutic process, that's why us professionals love it so much! But, it is important that you always take the right precautions when doing so because improper techniques can be very harmful to your vehicles paint.
We hope that this article was helpful and gave you a better understanding on proper hand washing methods. We want to inform you this article was not supposed to be a step by step tutorial on how to wash your vehicle, but more so guidance to using the right techniques.
For any further questions, feel free to contact us or comment on this post! Let us know your feedback if this was helpful and what you would like to learn about in future post. Share with your family and friends to spread the knowledge of the detailing industry.
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