Washing your car at home can help you save some money, but you have to be prepared to do it properly. These tips can help ensure you get it clean the right way.

How to Wash Your Car the Right Way

Washing your car regularly is a must if you want to keep it in good shape. Washing it not only makes it look nicer, it can also help it stay in better condition for longer. However, how you wash your car is what makes all the difference. From the products you use to the techniques you employ, you want to be sure you're getting it all right in order to prevent damaging your car. So then, what is the right way to wash a car? These tips from ALF Marketing will help you get it right.

Don't Use Household Cleaners

First of all, you must be sure you're using the proper cleaning solutions in order to prevent damaging your car's paint job. Never use household cleaners like dish soap or hand soap. These weren't made for use on a car so they may actually contain chemicals that can damage your paint and can strip away the protective wax layer on your car.

Do Use Products Made for Car-Washing

Now that you know to leave the dish soap and hand soap indoors, what can you use to wash your car? The answer to this is quite simple. There are tons of car washing products made specifically for use on a car and there are even products made for specific parts of your car. These products will oftentimes be milder, so they're safe for use on your car's paint and other parts. Tougher parts that can get dirtier, like the tires and wheels, will have to be washed with specialty products made to clean these tough areas. As for your car's body, use a natural sponge or lamb's wool mitt to scrub it. These items are softer, ensuring no new scratches show up as you wash it.

Don't Wash a Hot Car

If you just got home from a long drive or if your car has been sitting in the sun for a while, wait for it to cool down before starting to wash it. When your car's exterior is hot, the suds used to wash it can dry on the paint faster making it harder to get your car clean. As the suds dry up before you can rinse them away, you may start to notice unsightly water spots and deposits on your car. Washing your car is only one part of the maintenance you will have to perform to keep your car healthy. Taking care of your car's engine is another hugely important task to take care of. In order to ensure your car's insides are happy and healthy, give your car a synthetic oil change in Hagerstown. The oil pros at ALF Marketing can give you the personalized service you need to find the perfect oil for your car. Give them a call at (301) 416-0575 to get recommendations for products like AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil.

Do Wash Your Car in Parts

To prevent the suds from drying on your car's exterior, wash your car section by section instead of trying to wash your entire car as a whole. Start with the top of your car so that as you rinse it everything can trickle down and away from your car. Remember to also rinse off your car before starting to apply any car washing liquid. This will remove any loose dirt and debris than can cause scratches in your paint as you start to scrub it.

Don't Let It Air Dry

Once your car is clean and shiny, don't let your hard work go to waste by letting it air dry. If you think driving your wet car around will help it dry off faster and better, this isn't actually true. Doing this can lead to water spots appearing on your car's exterior. Instead, use a towel to soak up any and all water left on your car's body.

Don't Use Just Any Towel to Dry It

If you're pulling out your towels in preparation, put these back in your linen closet. Most of these towels are too harsh for your paint job and can lead to hairline scratches. Instead, use a drying chamois which is perfect for the job. Try not to apply too much pressure as you dry your car and do your best to avid rubbing the chamois onto your car's body. You may need a few of these, so be prepared before you even start to wash your car.

Protect Your Engine With a Synthetic Oil Change in Hagerstown

Now that your car is clean, move on to taking care of other maintenance tasks, like giving it a synthetic oil change in Hagerstown. Find the right oil for the job with a bit of help from ALF Marketing. Give them a call at (301) 416-0575 or visit their online shop to learn more about their products.