Half of all motorists admit to using washing-up liquid to clean their car – a potentially costly shortcut that could cause thousands of pounds of damage to paintwork.
While washing-up liquid is ideal for removing grease and burnt-on food, it strips away the protective layers of paint on a car’s body panels. This leaves it vulnerable to airborne and waterborne contaminants, along with damage from ultraviolet light.
According to a survey by Autoglym, 48 percent of drivers have used washing-up liquid to clean their vehicle, rising to 56 percent among those aged between 55 and 64 years old.
A third (34 percent) also admitted they have used dishcloths, which can leave behind minor scratches due to their tough fibres. And 12 percent have used a scrubbing brush for car cleaning, while 19 percent have simply used an item of clothing.
A costly error to repair
According to Autoglym, repainting a family car can cost up to £5,000, so only use dedicated car care products to wash or polish your vehicle.
“None of these household products have been developed with car cleaning in mind, and some of the scouring pads and brushes could even be causing lasting damage. The good news is that consumers can quickly rebuild essential layers of protection by using products specially formulated to be used on cars,” said Laura Fippen, head of technical services at Autoglym.
Of course there’s an agenda here, given what Autoglym sells, but Fippen has a point – and now that the weather is (finally) warming up, it now might be time to give your car a spring clean.
Tips for cleaning your car
Start by using a hose or pressure washer to remove the grime and salt from the underside of the car. Road salt will have a corrosive effect, so should be removed as soon as possible.
Use the pressure washer to blast away all the mud and salt that will have built up under the wheelarches, along with in the sills and around the bumpers.
Clean the alloy wheels using a specialist wheel cleaner, removing the build-up of brake dust with the help of a wheel brush or even a soft-bristle toothbrush. Once clean and dry, adding a layer of wax will help keep your wheels cleaner for longer – and make them easier to wash in the future.
Taking note of the following points will help make your car look beautiful again, too:
1. Don’t use washing-up liquid. This contains a small amount of salt, which can damage your car’s paintwork.
2. Use a car shampoo. This comes down to personal preference, but a car shampoo will always be preferable to washing-up liquid.
3. Avoid using a traditional sponge. Tiny pieces of dirt and grit will get stuck in the sponge, which will be spread across the paint as you wash it. This will leave little scratches and swirl marks.
4. Use a wash mitt. These have been specifically developed to get around the problem associated with sponges by absorbing the pieces of grit, keeping them away from the paintwork.
5. Use the two-bucket method. Sorry, but you’re going to need a second bucket. One bucket should contain the washing solution, and the other only fresh water. Soak the mitt in the first bucket and wash the car. Then rinse it out in the fresh water, before dunking it in the wash liquid again.
Motoring Research has compiled a seven-step guide on how to clean the interior of your car, which can be found can be found here.
To give your car a thorough interior valet, you’ll need a free afternoon, plus the following products: a vacuum cleaner (with the appropriate nozzles), quality microfibre cloths (ideally 300g/m), an all-purpose cleaner spray, plastic brushes, window cleaning fluid and plastic cleaning liquid.
If your car has leather seats, a pH-neutral leather cleaner and leather feed will also help. Good luck!
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How to give your car a spring clean