You’re standing in the driveway with a bucket of soapy water, ready to give your car some much-needed TLC, but good intentions don’t always lead to good results when it comes to car care.
There are some common car cleaning mistakes that are actually doing more harm than good. We’ve compiled the three biggest mistakes we see people make that could be slowly damaging your car’s paint without you even realising it. If you want your vehicle cleaned at home, avoid these, and you’ll know how to wash a car properly.
Mistake #1: Raiding your kitchen cabinet for car soap
You’ve run out of car wash soap and thought, “Hey, dish soap cleans grease off my plates, so it should work great on my car.” Dawn cuts through everything, right?
Wrong. Our first car cleaning tip is that household cleaners are like using a sledgehammer when you need a feather. Dish soap and laundry detergent are designed to be aggressive degreasers. They’ll strip away every protective layer on your car, like the wax, sealants, and even ceramic coatings if you have them.
If you think this is a money-saving hack, it can actually cost hundreds in paint correction later.
The same goes for cleaning your windows with ammonia-based cleaners. They’ll certainly make your house windows sparkle, but they’ll slowly destroy your car’s window tint. If you’ve seen cars with bubbling, peeling tint, someone has probably used the wrong glass cleaner.
The fix: Invest in a proper pH-balanced shampoo. It may seem like an unnecessary expense but think of it as insurance for your paint. These specialised soaps are formulated to clean effectively while preserving all those protective layers you’ve worked hard to maintain. For windows, stick to ammonia-free cleaners designed specifically for automotive use.
Mistake #2: Choosing the perfect sunny day for your car wash
Sunny days seem perfect for DIY car cleaning as they have great visibility, and everything dries quickly. What’s not to love?
Everything, as it turns out.
When you wash your car in direct sunlight, the soap and water dry so fast that you’ll barely keep up. Those water droplets act like tiny magnifying glasses, concentrating the sun’s heat and baking minerals into your clear coat. The result will be stubborn water spots that make your car look like it’s covered in polka dots and dirtier than before your wash.
The real damage happens when you spray cold water onto paint that’s been baking in the sun. This can create what looks like spider web cracks in the clear coat, which is damage that’s often permanent and expensive to fix.
The fix: Time your car washes for early morning or evening, or better yet, find some shade. Your garage is a great car washing spot, and before you start washing, touch your car’s surface. If it’s too hot to comfortably keep your hand on it, wait for it to cool down. Your paint will thank you.
Mistake #3: The “good enough” approach to drying
Think the hard work is over once you finish washing your car? Just let it air dry or grab whatever towel was handy to quickly wipe it down, and you’re done? Big mistake.
Air drying in areas with hard water (which is the case in most places) guarantees water spots. Those minerals won’t disappear; they get left behind as the water evaporates, etching into your clear coat over time.
Using the wrong drying materials might be even worse and not the way to avoid scratching car paint. Old bath towels have a rough texture that creates thousands of tiny scratches across your paint, especially on dark-coloured cars, where every swirl mark shows up like a neon sign. Don’t try to wipe off stubborn dirt spots with your drying towel, either. This contaminates the towel and turns it into sandpaper against your paint.
The fix: Invest in quality microfiber towels designed for cars, or even better, get a car blow dryer or use a leaf blower for contact-free drying. When you do use towels, work in straight lines following the car’s natural airflow pattern, never in circles. And if you encounter stubborn spots that didn’t come off during washing, leave them for a clay bar treatment. Never try to scrub them off during drying.
Four quick tips that make a difference
- Always rinse thoroughly before touching your car with anything. Those few minutes of pre-rinsing remove the loose dirt that would otherwise act like sandpaper during your wash.
- Wash your wheels first with separate tools, as you don’t want brake dust anywhere near your paint.
- Use plenty of soap as it’s lubrication that protects your paint from scratches.
- Rinse your wash mitt frequently in your soap bucket. When the water starts looking murky, it’s time for fresh soap.
Taking care of your car doesn’t have to be complicated
It does, however, require the right approach. These mistakes are easy to make because they seem logical, but they can cost you dearly in the long run.
Whether you wash your car yourself or decide that a professional service is worth the investment (which it certainly is), use the above information to make better decisions and take the time to learn how to wash a car properly.
