If you have just gotten your first car, you’re going to want to keep it clean. However, taking it to the car wash to have it cleaned and detailed regularly can get expensive. You’re already spending money on the car itself, insurance, and regular maintenance.
Not to worry, because cleaning your car by yourself is totally doable! Here are some of my tips for a DIY car wash at home:
Steps For A DIY Car Wash:
1. The Tools
To wash your car properly, you are going to need some basic equipment. A lot of these items are things you probably have lying around the house.
- Car wash soap. Your parents may advise you to use dish soap, however this is not recommended. Dish soap can strip the coating or wax off of your vehicle, so it’s best to buy soap made for cars.
- A hose or pressure washer.
- A sponge and microfiber cloths.
- Whitening toothpaste and a toothbrush.
- Baking soda.
- White Vinegar.
- A handheld, battery powered car vacuum.
2. The Outside
For the outside of the car, follow these steps to ensure a shining, clean exterior:
- Spray the car down with water
- Starting from the top, apply soap with the sponge and work downwards
- Rinse the soap off with water as you go
- Dry the car with a microfiber towel to avoid streaks
- Open up the doors and use a damp cloth to clean in between them
- Use your sponge and cloth to wash the wheels
If you have foggy headlights, you can use toothpaste to clean them. With a toothbrush, apply toothpaste to your headlights and scrub. Wipe away with a cloth.
3. The Inside
Now that you’ve done the outside, follow these steps to clean the inside of your car:
- Use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe away any dust, especially from the dashboard
- Mix dish soap and water together and wipe down the inside of the windows
- Take the mats out and give them a spray with the hose. Let them dry before putting them back in
- If the seats have stains, spray with white vinegar and let sit for 15 minutes. Apply baking soda, then spray more vinegar, and scrub the stain out
- If you want to deodorize the car, you can sprinkle baking soda on the upholstery. Let sit for 15 minutes and then vacuum
- Vacuum the interior of the car and put the mats back in
