When washing, rub the car gently, as a roughness here could grind dirt into the finish of your car, leaving unsightly scratches and swirls in the paint.
Rinsing your cloth, towel, brush, or mitt often helps to prevent any accumulated dirt from being rubbed across the paint surface.
When dipping into the soapy water, give your cloth a swirl while it’s in the water to help get out any stuck-in dirt or grime. If you’re using a mitt, take it off periodically and fill the inside with water, then turn it upside down and pour the water back out – this helps to remove any caught dirt from inside the glove.
As soon as you’ve finished washing the car, it’s important to begin drying it right away. Using a soft cotton or terry cloth towel, and starting at the top of the vehicle, blot the water gently off of the surface. After the initial blotting, switch to a fresh, dry towel to blot away any remaining moisture. Once you’ve dried the top using this method, move on to the trunk and hood, and then down to the sides.
You’re finished! You can be confident that your vehicle is as clean as it can be. You’ve successfully turned away another environmental attack against your vehicle’s precious shine. If you’ve got a little extra time on your hands after you’ve finished washing the car, feel free to take a drive to your local coin-operated car wash and put a few quarters into their pressure wash machine. It’s a good idea to use this, from time to time, to spray underneath the vehicle and inside the wheel-wells. These are the places where corrosion most often rears its ugly head, and a little pressure wash now and then can help to keep the rust away.