How to Wash Your Car’s Interior and Exterior at Home

Keeping your car clean not only makes it look nicer but also prolongs its life. But why would you wash your car yourself? Some owners simply like the process, while others don’t trust commercial car washes or don’t want to spend money on something they can do themselves.

5-Minute Crafts would like to tell you about how to wash your car’s exterior and clean its interior at home.

What you’ll need

Getting ready

• Choose the right place and time. Try to park your car in the shade or schedule to wash your car on a cool, cloudy day. Of course, you’d rather enjoy the warm sun while cleaning, but because of the heat, the car will dry quickly, and soap and watermarks will remain on the car’s surface. Washing can be done in the yard of ​​a private house, but make sure that the remnants of chemical products don’t harm any plants nearby. If you have a bucket full of dirty water, you can throw it in the toilet.

❗️ Don’t wash your car near open bodies of water. This has a negative impact on the environment. Additionally, in many places, car-washing isn’t allowed in condos and apartment blocks.

• Dress appropriately. You will get wet and dirty, so consider wearing something suitable.
• Allocate enough time. It all depends on how thorough your cleaning will be. It usually takes about 30 minutes minimum from getting ready to drying.
• Raise the wipers so they stick out in the air.
• Remember to close the doors and all the windows tightly.

Step 1: touchless wash

The dirtier the car, the more likely you will scratch it when you wash it with a sponge. Therefore, you need to remove all dirt, dust, and sand first. To do this, use a car pressure washer. If you don’t have one, a regular hose will do, to which a foam nozzle is attached.

❗️ Make sure the spray angle is wide, not narrow, to avoid damaging the paint. For the same purpose, keep the nozzle away from the surface of the car — the distance should be at least 1 foot.

• Start at the top and work your way down. Focus on dirty areas. Any dirt that can’t be removed at this stage can be washed off at the next stage.

• When you’re done washing the car with water, switch to foam. To do this, connect a container with car shampoo to the washer, or you can use a special nozzle for the hose. Don’t use dishwashing liquid because it will wash off all the wax. Cover the entire car with the shampoo and water solution, then rinse it off with clean water.

Step 2: cleaning the wheels

The wheels can be in bad condition, not only due to road dirt, but also due to brake dust, which is especially difficult to remove. If you have a special tire and wheel cleaner, you can use it. If you don’t, regular soapy water will work.

• First, remove the dirt from the wheels with clean water. Don’t forget the mud flaps.
• Clean the surface of the discs with a brush, using soapy water.
• Rinse off the soap.

❗️ Don’t use a sponge, which you will use to wash your car later, to avoid getting sand on it. Otherwise, you will scratch the paint.

Step 3: washing with a sponge

You’ll need 2 buckets: one with soapy water, and one with clean water. Before using them, make sure there is no dirt inside, which can later get on the sponge and scratch the car. You can also put sand protection in the form of a grid sieve on the bottom of the second bucket.

• Dip a microfiber sponge into the soapy water. Always start cleaning from the top of the vehicle and work your way down, gradually. Move your hand only from side to side, without making circular movements, otherwise, if sand gets in, you can leave chaotic scratches that will be much more difficult to remove than straight ones.
• After you finish washing a certain area, rinse the sponge in clean water. Wash off the dirt from it. Then dip it into the soapy water again and continue cleaning the car.

❗️ Don’t forget about hard-to-reach places, such as between the spoiler and the trunk or behind the gas cap. Open the door and wash the car surface behind it.

• After washing the entire car from top to bottom, remove the soap with a jet of water.

Step 4: drying

Drying your car is actually just as important as washing it. If you simply leave your car to dry in the air, it will end up covered in streaks and traces of dried water droplets.

• Use a dry suede, cotton, or microfiber cloth. Make sure there is no sand or other dirt on it.
• Wipe off any wet surface before water droplets begin to dry.

💡 Remember that you can always wet a specific area with clean water again to remove stains.

Step 5: cleaning the interior

• Remove any trash and get rid of unnecessary things inside the car. Those who keep the interior tidy can skip this point. Others will have to take trash bags and thoroughly clean up.

• Take out the floor mats. Wash off the dirt with soapy water and a brush. You can use the same brush you used for the wheels, but remember to rinse it well before doing so.
• Vacuum the interior. Remove debris from the floor using a car vacuum cleaner or a regular vacuum cleaner with a suitable nozzle.

• Use a foam cleaner to remove dirt from the carpet. To do this, spread the foam evenly over the floor. Let it soak a little. Then wipe it with a clean cloth to remove any residue.

❗️ Always read and follow the instructions before using any product.

• Take care of the dashboard and doors. Use wax polish for this purpose. Apply the product and then wipe it with a soft microfiber cloth.
• Clean the seats. There are special cleaners for fabric or leather upholstery. Follow the directions on the label. Note that cleaning fabric seats will require a wet vacuum cleaner. If you don’t have one, it’s better to turn to professionals.
• Wipe the windows from the inside. You can do this with a special product or table vinegar. Just apply one of them to a paper towel or cotton or microfiber cloth.