Cleaning your car

Cleaning your car is often a daunting task, but who doesn’t love to see their motor looking spic and span? Even if it's going to be sat on the driveway, at least it can sparkle.

To make the job feel like less of a chore, follow our top tips for giving your car a tip top clean with minimum fuss.

What you'll need

• A hose (preferable but not essential)
• Two buckets
• A sponge or mitten
• Three microfibre cloths
• Car shampoo
• All in one polish
• Car glass cleaner
• Lots of cold water

Remove the dirt before washing

First you should remove all of the grime and dirt. Start at the top of the car and work your way down. You can use a hose or bucket to give the car what is known as a pre-wash. Use a sponge to loosen any thicker areas of dirt whilst being mindful not to drag anything across the paint. Don’t forget the wheels!

The wash

For this stage, we recommend using a car shampoo rather than washing up liquid. Use the two bucket method, with the first holding your cleaning solution and the second rinsing off the dirt from your mitten after every contact with the car.

Wheels

As they are close to the ground, the tyres, brakes and alloys are usually the first place to get dirty and often the toughest to clean. We recommend using a specific wheel cleaning solution to help break down the build-up of grime.

Drying the car

You may be tempted to leave the car to dry naturally, but that won't give it a high shine. Instead, use a microfibre towel to gently dry the body of the car. This type of towel is super absorbent so will soak up the excess water and allow you to buff the car dry in circular motions.

Polish and wax

Adding polish or wax to the car will provide a protective layer and fresh finish. You may want to apply polish and wax separately, however a good all in one product can offer a month of protection. Use a clean, dry microfibre cloth and work in small areas at a time.

The glass

Spray the glass cleaner over half of the windscreen before wiping away with a microfibre cloth. Repeat the process on all windows, using circular motions and changing direction from time to time. Be sure to buff out any smears as this could affect your vision when driving.

And that’s it. We hope our simple tips help give your car an effective clean. Be sure to let us know how you get on by uploading your picks to Facebook or X.