Step 2: Wash
Everyone knows how to wash a car, right? Not necessarily. Here are a few tips to be as effective with the bucket and hose as you can.
Always wash your car in the shade and when the car's surface is cool. (In fact, you should do all your car-care work in the shade.) You don't want sunlight or hot sheetmetal to prematurely dry the water and leave spots. Rinse the car off with a hose first, to loosen the dirt and further cool off the metal. And always wash a car from the roof down. Water runs downhill (duh!), and you don't want to be dragging dirty water over a clean area.
For the suds, use a wash solution that's formulated for cars, not for dishes or clothes. The degreasing agents in household detergents will strip away protective wax on the paint.
Make sure you rinse the soap off completely, then dry the car with a high-quality, 100-percent-cotton terry cloth towel or a microfiber towel. These will remove water without scratching the surface. You may want to dry large areas with a big towel first, then follow up with a smaller towel to remove any leftover water. Don't forget to dry the doorjambs, under the trunk lid, and under the hood.
4. Mike Pennington recommends the two-bucket car-wash method. Fill one bucket with water and the appropriate amount of soap (always use a special wash formulated for automotive paint, not a household detergent). Fill a second bucket with plain water. Soak a wash mitt in the soapy water, wipe the car, and then rinse the mitt in the clear water. That way, the second bucket catches all the dirt coming out of the mitt so it won't get wiped back onto the car.
5. Then there's the no-bucket approach. Mothers makes Trigger Wash that you squirt directly onto a wet-wash mitt. When it's time to rinse the mitt, you do it with a hose, not in a bucket. Plus, you use less wash solution with the Trigger Wash than you typically do pouring soap into a bucket of water.
6. Ken Holland and Craig Burnett at Mothers had several good washing tips. One was to pay a lot of attention to the lower parts of your car, as these will pick up the most road grime. Also don't forget to wash areas that you can't readily see, like inside spoiler ducts and under wings.
7. Another good tip from Mothers: A wide, soft spray pattern from the hose is best when you start the wash, as it will loosen the dirt from a large area. But when it comes time to do the final rinse, use a low-pressure stream like you see here. It will help sheet the water off the car, leaving less water to towel off.