How to wash a car properly, a step by step guide

We all would love a sparkling, clean car all the time. Unfortunately, your vehicle can be one of the hardest things to keep clean. You need to wash it regularly, so learning how to do it properly at home can help prevent minor wear and tear and maintain your car’s value.

Read on to learn some tips on how to keep your car looking better for longer with the right cleaning techniques and tools.

What you need to wash your car

Car washing tools and supplies for a home car wash

The right cleaning tools are key to ensuring your car always looks its best. They can also make the job much easier. Have everything you need prepared before the wash by gathering the following:

• Car shampoo

• Wheel cleaner

• Soft wheel brush

• Snow foam cannon

• Microfibre wash mitt

• Large microfibre drying towel

• Pressure washer

• Two buckets with grit guards

If you are really doing a proper interior and exterior clean, you’ll also require a vacuum cleaner for the interior, rubber gloves, and window cleaner.

It is very important that you avoid using hand soap, dishwashing liquid, or any product other than car wash detergent. The proper stuff is specifically designed to protect your car’s paint and wax while providing a good clean.

Where to wash a car at home

Step-by-step home car washing process

Choosing the right spot for your at-home car wash is important, but so is choosing the right day. A warm, sunny day seems best, right? Wrong! This common mistake means your car will dry too quickly, and while you may be thinking, “sweet, less work,” you’ll actually end up with spots on your paint and windows. If possible, choose an overcast day and wash your car somewhere flat and shady, with room to fully open your doors.

How to properly wash a car at home

Follow this step-by-step guide to ensure a thorough car wash at home:

Step 1: Start with the wheels

Cleaning car wheels with a specialised cleaner

It’s always good to start by washing your wheels as they are the dirtiest areas and you don’t want this grime near your car paint. We’d love to tell you there is some kind of secret to make this process easier, but soapy water and good old fashioned scrubbing is the key.

You can make things a little easier for yourself by investing in a dedicated wheel cleaning product. That aside, it’s all about the scrub. Ensure you cover the wheel nuts and outside tires.

Step 2: Do a thorough pre-rinse

Pre-rinsing a car before applying shampoo

Once the wheels are taken care of, hose off the entire vehicle to get rid of any loose dirt then begin your wash by sections. Work systematically from top to bottom in this order: 

1. Roof

2. Window supports and windows

3. Top of the bonnet and upper panels

4. Middle of the doors and the boot

5. Front bumper

6. Lower panels

7. Lower part of the doors

8. Back bumper

Step 3: Shampoo your car

Using a foam cannon to apply car shampoo

Grab the foam cannon and fill it with car shampoo. Attach the foam cannon to the pressure and begin coating the entire vehicle with a thick layer of snow foam. This helps lift dirt off the car’s surface. Let the foam sit for about five to seven minutes, and then rinse it off.

Here's a tip: never leave your car in the sun while soaking it with the snow foam. Otherwise, it will leave white, streaky spots on the vehicle. If this happens, do a pre-rinse in a two-bucket wash and start again.

Step 4: Contact wash with the two-bucket method

Using the two-bucket method to reduce dirt transfer while washing

After rinsing off the foam, use the two-bucket method to do a contact wash. Here’s how:

1. Fill one bucket with soapy water and the other with plain water for rinsing.

2. Dip your microfibre wash mitt into the soapy water.

3. Wash your car from the roof down to the bumpers, working one panel at a time.

4. After each panel, rinse the mitt in the plain water bucket to remove dirt.

5. Dip the mitt back into the soapy water and move on to the next panel.

6. Repeat until the whole car is clean.

Step 5: Rinse and dry your car thoroughly

Final drying stage of a home car wash

Rinse your car from top to bottom using the pressure washer, applying a steady, gentle stream of water to wash off the foam.

Next, dry your car immediately with a large microfibre towel or an air car blower. Never leave your car air-drying in the sun, as this will cause mineral deposits to form permanently on the surface.

This is optional, but you can use a misting spray wax or quick detailer onto the panels before wiping to lubricate and shine your car’s exterior.

Cleaning the car interior

Clean car interior with a modern dashboard and leather seats

A lovely, clean exterior is less enjoyable if your car is dirty on the inside. Cleaning the interior is an important part of the process, and you should begin by removing any rubbish and loose, personal items, so you don’t lose them to the vacuum.

From here, it’s all about vacuuming every nook and cranny, then using an electrostatic cloth to clean the hard surfaces. Make sure you vacuum under the seats and wipe the air vents and other hard-to-reach areas. Those who are passionate about giving their car a proper clean can also use a small brush with soapy water to clean the pedals, which get extremely dirty over time.

Keeping the car clean

You’ve put in the hours and effort, so you’ll likely want to keep your car as clean as possible for as long as possible. Unless you plan to keep it in a hermetically sealed showroom, your car will get dirty again, but a few preemptive actions can keep it clean for as long as possible.

Always consider where you park your car and avoid parking under trees or any spots where the local birds may like to hang out. If you can, avoid newly sealed gravel roads when driving as they can create quite a mess.

For the interior, avoid messy food and drinks, and give your shoes a clean before getting in the car. It is advisable to wash your car once a fortnight. The dirtier your car gets, the harder it is to clean, so regular cleaning not only maintains its condition but makes the cleaning itself a lot less effort.

Need help with washing your car?

You have the info; now you just have to put in the work. It may take some time and effort, but that first drive in your freshly cleaned vehicle will be well worth it! You’ll also keep your car in great condition for longer, which will help its resale value.

If the time and effort are, however, dealbreakers, you’ll find plenty of Taskers who can handle your car cleaning for you. This gives you the advantage of an at-home, high-quality hand clean without having to dedicate the hours and energy to the task yourself.