Car Washing Tips and Tricks

When washing your own car there are some things to keep in mind to ensure a good result. This is a guide containing car washing tips and tricks.

Solutions: Car Washing Tips and Tricks

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Use Bath Scrubby To Wash Car

When cleaning your car and the bug spots are hard to get off, just use a nylon bath scrubby ball that comes with many bath sets. They are soft and will not scratch the paint, but will work wonderfully on those greasy bug spots and black tar.

By Jan M from Appleton, WI

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Waterless Car Wash

"Wash" your car during a water shortage by wiping it down with a soft cloth (microfiber works well), while there is dew on it in the morning. A lot of grime comes off with the moisture.

By old dog from Cullowhee, NC

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Pantyhose Over Car Wash Sponge

If you tuck your car wash sponge into a pair of old pantyhose, it will clean the car better and get more gunk off of the paint. It is safe and easy.

Blessings.

By Robyn

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Saving Water When Washing Your Car

Here in Central Florida, we are currently under a "Level 4" watering ban which bans people from home car washing. A fine can be imposed, as a backyard car wash job can easily use from 3-5 gallons of water. We cleaned our 2006 Honda Accord using approx. 3/4 of a gallon of water, two old soft bath towels, and maybe 45 minutes of our time.

First, we cleaned out the 2 1/2 gallon garden sprayer. Then poured in 1 pint white vinegar. Next, we added 1 gallon clean tap water. Mixed everything and we were ready to go! The trick is spray a small area at a time, and after one of us wiped in circular motions, the other followed with the other towel to absorb all the moisture remaining.

We cleaned from top to bottom, well actually, as I am 5 feet tall, my husband did the entire roof! But, we cleaned windows and the whole car body. I contemplated adding a squirt of dish washing liquid to make the solution "wetter" but chose not too as I didn't know if it would require more rinsing. The plain white vinegar and water solution worked beautifully.

We did not do the wheels and tires but perhaps we will include them next time. We did not use all the solution we had made. We did not "hose off" the car with either water before using our thrifty solution nor over wet each small area as we worked. By the way, our car had a hefty accumulation of road stuff on it as it had been about a month since it had been to the car wash in town. Happy thrifty car washing!

By Hamnurse from Thonotosassa, FL

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Look for Working Self Serve Car Washes

When in doubt about whether a do it yourself car wash is working, look for the wet ones. Because it has been used recently, it is more than likely a working one. :)

By Diana Sue M.

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Car Washing Tips

Tips for washing your car. Post your ideas.

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Wash The Car In Flip Flops

I wash my car frequently in the summer months at the small car wash in my town. Sometimes when I am in town running errands and need to wash the car, I don't always want to because I may be wearing the wrong shoes. (I hate to get splatter on nice shoes). I keep a pair of old flip flops in the trunk, slip them on and wash away!

Alica

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Wipe Down Your Car With Vinegar

Here is a quick and easy way to wash the car. The other day I decided to wash my car windows, which were looking pretty smeary. I used a bowl of vinegar and water about 3 cups water and one of vinegar. When I was through, I wiped off the hood which was looking pretty dusty - and dried it and before I knew it,I cleaned the entire car.

I was sure it would dry with smears, etc. but it didn't. It really looked pretty good. I have a compact car, so a larger car would probably need more water and vinegar. I was really pleased with the results - no hosing down - and only took about ten minutes. I will definitely do this again.

By Joan from Chesterfield MI

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Questions

Here are questions related to Car Washing Tips and Tricks.

Saving on Car Washing

What is a cheap way to wash a car?

By britan from Wonthaggi, Victoria, AU

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Most Recent Answer

By rosefroggie 07/10/2009

Old fashioned type here. I use water and soap and sponges. Why not? It's kills 99% of germs, I use this idea throughout my whole house with hot water. Why not kills 99% of germs. Be frugal. Why not settle for something everyone once used. A little bit of bleach in the toilet and tough stains, and rubbing alcohol for the mirrors, a little bit in luke warm water. If your hands are sensitive I suggest using gloves.

This is how I clean. Oh, soon I'm going to start buying sponges and rags instead of paper towels. I'm cheap lately. Good for the economical times.

Saving Water When Washing Your Car

Instead of washing the car with the hose, buckets, or car wash and wasting so much water; fill 1/4 of a bucket with water, use a micro fibre cloth, wring out so its nearly dry. Start on the roof and work your way down. When the cloth dries out too much, dip it into the bucket and wring out well so it's nearly dry. Repeat, until you finish. If you have the cloth too wet, it makes the car muddy looking. That's why you have to have it nearly dry. I have a commodore station wagon, it works great on this car. Hopefully it works on others.

By jas69 from South Australia

RE: Water Saving Home Car Wash

While I commend your desire to save water, I question this method of car washing. The grit contained in the cloth will leave fine scratches in the top coat of your auto's paint. Over time this will dull your finish and make for an unattractive car. If you want to save water, rinse only a small portion of your car at a time and wash and rinse before you move on to the next section. Or better yet, take your car to a carwash that recycles its water. (01/06/2009)

By readingiggits

RE: Water Saving Home Car Wash

Summer before last, when we were having a drought and people were advised to conserve water and not wash their vehicles, I used two small buckets of water to wash our car. One was for washing and the other was for rinsing. I didn't even have to move the car off the carport. It worked quite well and was much less messy than washing the car with a hose. I called it giving my car a sponge bath. (01/06/2009)

RE: Saving Water When Washing Your Car

I do it an easy way, I use a regular string mop and a sponge mop to wash our van with 2 buckets almost full of water,o ne with soap and one to rinse, don't take long to do this. Good luck. (02/05/2009)

By k w

Saving on Car Washing

Since it's officially spring, I thought I would share this tip with you. We like to save some money on car washes by washing our vehicles at home. It is great fun for the family to get out the hose and wash the car together.

We usually end up in a great water fight before we are finished, too! Seriously, car washes are very expensive and you can buy what you need to wash and wax your vehicles at any department store and do it yourself at home. Cheaper and lots of fun and entertainment!

By Robin