Car wash errors can be costly and damaging to your paint job, but learning how to avoid these missteps will allow you to maintain its resale value and beauty for many years to come.

Don’t treat your car like a dish, using household sponges, brushes or old rags can leave behind scratches that damage its finish and dull its paint job.

1. Using Household Detergents

Household detergents like hand soap, dish soap and laundry detergent aren’t specifically formulated to clean cars properly; thus exposing it to environmental contaminants and UV radiation that could lead to corrosion, dulling or permanent damage.

To protect the paint on your vehicle, it is best to wash with nonabrasive automotive washing soap that contains thick foam for extra lubrication and minimal scratching. Start at the top of your car and work down, frequently rinsing off your wash mitt or sponge as you go.

Pre-soaking the vehicle body prior to applying soap can help loosen dirt and debris, making cleaning simpler and reducing scratched surfaces. Rinsing soap off frequently also decreases risk of swirl marks that leave light yet visible scratches in its wake.

2. Washing Under the Sun

Professional car wash owners frequently caution their customers against washing cars under direct sunlight, even though this might not seem harmful at first glance. While direct sunlight might seem advantageous in terms of heating up the surface of the vehicle, direct exposure could damage its finish or cause other complications.

Customers using brushes, sponges or other abrasive cloths to scrub the paint of their vehicle can incur considerable damage, leaving visible scratches as well as unseen damage that will surface years later.

Direct sunlight can cause soap and water spots to dry on a car’s paint before it is possible for them to be rinsed away, leading to unsightly water spots and mineral deposits that are difficult to remove. Therefore, it is wise to avoid washing cars directly under direct sunlight between sunrise and sunset if at all possible. Rather opt for early morning or late evening car washes instead.

3. Reusing Dirty Wash Mitts

Like any painter would clean their brush after each stroke, your wash mitt should also be regularly cleansed to maintain an effective cleaning service and avoid unintended damage such as minor scratches and swirl marks.

Dirty wash mitts may unintentionally grind contaminants into the paint surface, leading to damage and even microfiber mitts that lift contaminants safely away from it. Therefore, instead of reusing old towels or traditional sponges for washing your car, opt for microfiber mitts which safely lift contaminants off.

Utilizing the two bucket method and an excellent microfiber wash mitt are two effective strategies for minimizing scratches on a vehicle. By having separate buckets for soapy and rinse water, swirling dirt off is reduced while grit guards at the bottom of each wash bucket can catch loose particles that could otherwise cause damage to your paint job. Finally, drying your car thoroughly after each washing session to minimize water spots; soft materials like microfiber towels or chamois towels are recommended as rough materials may scratch its paintwork surface.

4. Using the Wrong Tools

Maintaining your car paint job increases its resale value, as prospective buyers see it as evidence of careful maintenance. Unfortunately, regular wear and tear inevitably creates scratches, swirl marks, and other imperfections which if ignored could seriously compromise your paint’s integrity and even damage its durability.

To prevent damage to your car’s finish and help preserve its appearance, it’s essential that you avoid common washing mistakes that could leave it looking worn-down and unattractive. Misusing household cleaners, starting to wash in direct sunlight, and failing to rinse thoroughly all increase the risk of scratches, streaks and other issues which will ruin its finish’s look and reduce overall appearance.

Not toss out old rags or T-shirts into the garbage can just yet! Instead invest in microfiber towels and a dedicated wash mitt instead. Sponge can damage paint while the soft fibers of microfiber cloth lift dirt particles without doing damage; don’t use paper towels because they may leave behind lint! Make sure that you rinse out your wash mitt regularly in order to reduce risk of scratches.

5. Using Only One Bucket

When washing cars, it’s essential that two separate buckets are used: one for soapy water and the other for rinsing your sponge or cloth. Reusing dirty sponges or towels from your shampoo bucket could transfer dirt back onto the paint surface causing swirl marks that look unsightly while also damaging its clear coat finish.

Regular towels can leave visible scratches on a car, while brushes or sponges with any kind of abrasive surface may leave damage that goes undetected – but which wear down paint jobs over time. Furthermore, using these materials could scratch windows resulting in water spots or streaks appearing on windows.

Follow these tips when washing your car on your own or at a BLISS advanced wash tunnel to protect its paint and keep it looking new. Make sure to use mild car-specific soap that won’t strip away wax layers, rinse thoroughly afterward, and use microfiber towels that are soft yet absorbent, rather than rough or scratchy!