You Make These 9 Mistakes While Washing Your Car

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1. Do not remove winter salt

Black moons not only affect us but also our cars. Time to get rid of the winter dirt. Aggressive salt and dirt crust not only looks unsightly, but also has a corrosion promoting effect on already damaged paint – so get rid of it!

2. Not preparing the car

If you don’t want to wash by hand, choose a car wash. A few preparations have to be made here: for example, fold the exterior mirrors and unscrew the antenna. Unmarked but natural: close the windows and sunroof, lock the fuel filler flap and – most importantly – turn off the rain sensor in the windshield wipers. If the tailgate opens automatically, this function must be disabled for washing.

3. I forgot to pre-wash

A very important point is pre-washing. To do this, either choose a suitable extra option for the washing program or rinse by hand with a steam jet before entering. This softens stubborn dirt on the paint and prevents dirt, grit and small stones from working like sandpaper and creating unsightly scratches when brushing.

4. Choose an expensive super program

The following applies to the washing program: Inexpensive, usually good and sufficient. Vehicle-expensive super-programs are not necessary, some options such as underbody washing can be a problem even in older cars because in the worst case moisture can get into the gaps in the vehicle floor. On the other hand, it may make sense to protect the paint, to protect the surface from the sun’s rays and sticky pollen.

5. Clean the car on private property

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with hand-washing your car, which is kinder to the paint. In addition to spending significantly more time, you have to consider other things: When washing private property, only clean water from a garden hose can be used – high-pressure cleaners and chemical cleaners are taboo (click here for the TCS guide). We recommend that you always wash cars in approved car washes, as oil and other contaminants can also accumulate in wastewater.

6. Not checking the paint

After thorough cleaning, you should urgently check your paint for stone chips or scratches – otherwise you risk rusting! If you notice such areas, the splintered paint residue should be carefully removed, the area cleaned and degreased, and then treated with a touch-up stick. If in doubt, have the paint checked by a professional.

7. Do not clean windows

A shiny car means nothing as long as you can barely see it through the window! Therefore, carefully clean all glass surfaces and panes, including the interior, to remove the stubborn layer of dirt. You should also take this opportunity to check the windshield wiper blades that may have cracked due to ice and cold. If the rubber is brittle or the blades start to stain while mopping, you should get new ones.

8. Leave the ski strap open

If you still have your ski rack or roof rack from your winter vacation, now is the time to disassemble it. In addition to poorer aerodynamics, every extra kilo also means unnecessary additional consumption! Winter essentials such as snow chains, ice scrapers and brooms can also be stored in the basement in the summer.

9. Not controlling fluids

One final check is all it takes to start the spring with your car comfortably: Check the engine oil, coolant and windshield washer fluid levels and top up if necessary. You should also check if the lighting is still fully functional. For example, if you wear summer tires at Easter, check the tread depth. If they are smaller than three millimeters, you should replace the old ones with new ones. Blick wishes you safe travels!

Source: Blick