Preparing for a car wash is almost as important as the wash itself.

Problem is, proper pre-wash knowledge is poorly laid out for beginners (until now). You’ve got hundreds of car care products to choose from, relentless internet rants over proper/improper technique, and on top of that you’ve got mother nature to deal with so you’re not washing during a rain storm.

It may sound like a lot to be up against, but that’s a feeling I hope to dispel. Below you’ll find basic car wash knowledge including product information, rules, and proper setup procedure for car wash success.

Car Wash Rules

Washing your car sounds simple, and it can be but to maximise its effectiveness and minimise the chance of damage incurred through the process we have put together these tips. There are certain things to look out for, but most of it’s pretty self explanatory.

Nothing touches the ground except for water and suds. You don’t want your mitts or towels picking up a rock or even small particles of dirt or dust and eventually marring your finish.

Always keep wheel accessories separate from the rest of your tools. Brake dust is dangerous, especially on paint – avoid contamination by keeping organized.

Add soap to the bucket before water. Foam is extremely important in the car wash process and doing this will give you more than if you added water first.

Always use clean accessories. Using dirty mitts and/or towels is a great way to really ruin your paint – don’t do it. All to often I see wash mitts in garages on floors or dirty buckets.

Avoid washing in direct sunlight. Even if a product says it can be used in the sun that doesn’t mean its a good idea, it will greatly improve the chance of watermarks and streaks being left. If you have to waiting a while for the sun to shift, that’s fine, its worth the wait.