"Wash Me" Six Secrets for a Perfect Do-It-Yourself Car Wash

Have you ever come out of the mall or the grocery store to discover that some clever kid has taken his finger to your car, leaving a message in the layer of grime. "Wash Me," it says. Or even worse: "Don’t Wash Me. I Belong to Pigpen."

That’s when you know it’s time to do something about those dusty windows, water-spotted chrome, and mud splatters. But before you zip over to the $1.50 automatic car wash at your local gas station, you should consider doing the job yourself.

Do-It-Yourself Is Best

According to Mike Hargrove, a professional detailer since 1974 at Mercedes Benz of Cincinnati, there’s a good reason your dad spent so many Saturdays in the driveway with a plastic bucket and sponge, soaping down the family sedan. It’s the safest and most effective way to wash your car (aside from a pricey professional detail job).

"Only you know how much pressure you’re putting on the car," Hargrove says, "and when you hand-wash, you can control that. Less pressure means less damage to the paint, and a better finish over the years."

Six Secrets for a Perfect Car Wash

1. Since pressure and friction are the enemies of your car’s finish, Hargrove says it’s crucial that you use a soft cloth, such as chamois or an old knit rag or T-shirt.

2. Pick your detergent with care. It’s fine to grab the liquid dishwashing detergent out of the kitchen for your Saturday afternoon hose-down, but be aware that the grease-cutting properties in that detergent will gradually strip off your car’s wax. Unless you’re planning to wax after you’ve washed, purchase a grit-free commercial car detergent, the milder the better.

3. When buffing out fine scratches, use a buffing compound with as little grit as possible. Heat, not abrasion, is what will restore the fine shine to a coat of paint, Hargrove says. The shiny finish on your car is the result of a "clear coat" over the manufacturer’s paint, and the heat generated during buffing causes that clear, protective shield to relax and smooth out, giving a beautiful shine.

4. This may sound like a no-brainer, but dark-colored cars require more frequent upkeep than light cars. Owners of dark cars should buff and wax at least 4 times a year to maintain the depth and shine in the paint’s finish, because the scratching and wear of daily driving and weekly washing will show up faster on a black or brown car. Lighter cars–tans, light blues, whites–require a twice-annual buff and wax for basic maintenance.

5. Does your Uncle Roy brag about putting 5 coats of wax on his car? Tell him he just wasted a lot of wax. When it comes to car wax, more isn’t better; it’s just more. Regardless of whether you wax your car in one pass or 5, daily wear will take that wax off uniformly, in one layer, leaving your car no more protected despite your multiple applications and elbow grease.

6. Caveat Emptor is the rule when shopping for a professional detailer, Hargrove says. Some of their impressive-sounding services are either unnecessary or can actually harm to your car.

For example, steam cleaning an engine–which involves spraying a degreaser on the engine and using a high-pressure water spray to remove it–can get water into electrical parts, or otherwise cause the car to run poorly, Hargrove says. And besides, it’s really not necessary that your car sparkle underneath the hood (though it can be a nice effect if you’re trying to sell the car).

Hargrove also pooh-poohs sealants, which some detailers claim will prolong the life of the paint’s finish. "In my opinion, it’s hype," Hargrove says. "A sealant will give you a shine, but it’s no better than wax. And it’s easy to apply, but you’re not looking for easy–you’re looking for a durable shine that’s going to last a while."