The easy way to clean your car!

Before you do anything, move your car out of direct sunlight. This means your water and cleaning products will evaporate less while you’re working and will keep you from working up a sweat too!

 The last thing you want when cleaning your car is to end up just cleaning with dirty water and adding more dirt. That’s where the 3 bucket system comes in! You have one bucket of warm water and car cleaner and one bucket of just water to rinse your cleaning sponge or cloth before dunking it back into the soapy water bucket.

The third is for your wheel cleaning. Your wheels are often the dirtiest part of your car so the cleaner for these needs to be kept separate.

Let’s get the worst part over with first! Get your wheel bucket at the ready! Spray a specific wheel cleaner directly on to your wheels, leave to soak for 2-5 minutes. Then, wipe away with a cloth and the water from your wheel bucket. Be sure not to get any product on your tyres as they could spray this onto your car body when you drive and damage the paintwork. Rinse well with water before finishing.

Now for the big bit! First, rinse the car down with water to remove any larger pieces of dirt. If you have a pressure washer, this is ideal for the body wash, but a bucket of water should also do the trick.

Get your bucket of warm water and add in your car washing liquid. Make sure you’re using a soap designed for washing cars. Liquid detergents and dish cleaners can strip away the wax and even damage the paint. To make it easier, invest in a car wash and wax cleaner so you can do two jobs in one! Add this to your warm water bucket and wipe your car body with your sponge or cloth. Use your bucket of clean water to wipe the substance away or spray down with your pressure washer. Dry off your car exterior with a microfibre cloth for a clean finish.

Don’t forget your car interior! That’s what you’ll be seeing most when you’re driving (and your passengers too.) First, get rid of all the wrappers, bottles of water (we know you have lots!) and anything else you have lying around. Bring out the vacuum and give the floor, seats and mats a good clean.

For the dashboard, steering wheels and inside gadgets, make sure you use a cleaner specifically for car interior. Wipe away any dust with a cloth first then spray your cleaner on to the areas you want to clean and wipe away.

You’re almost done! A car clean is never complete without a nice smelling air freshener to keep your car smelling like new again. Invest in one with your favourite smell and you’ll be thankful for it on long drives!

If you’re planning on using a pressure washer to help you, here are some tips on what to do and what not to do!