Detailing cars has been a thing for quite a while, and yet many people still make the most basic mistakes that cause tons of swirl marks and scratches on the vehicles’ paint while washing the car.
Those mistakes are easily avoidable, and today we will show you the five most common mistakes people make that cause scratches on their cars, so you can avoid doing them and keep your car paint shiny and scratch-free for longer.
1. Using a sponge to wash the car
Using a sponge or a brush is the number one reason why people scratch their vehicles while washing them. Both sponges and brushes are abrasive, and they just keep rolling the dirt from your car all over the paint, causing hundreds of micro scratches and sometimes even major scratches if there’s a little rock particle or something similar.
The fix is pretty simple; all you need is a high-quality microfiber wash mitt for washing vehicles. Those microfiber towels are extremely soft, and they won’t drag dirt all over your car. Instead, they’ll trap it inside the fibers, thus reducing the chances of scratching on your car.
2. Using only one wash bucket
Even though microfiber wash mitts are great at preventing scratches on your vehicle while washing it, you should still do some additional prevention steps. Many people only use one bucket to wash their cars, and that’s a mistake. That one bucket will quickly become full of dirt and dust particles, and whenever you soak a microfiber towel into the bucket, it’ll pick up some dirt and potentially scratch your car.
The fix to this mistake is simple; start using a two or three-bucket method when washing your car. Two bucket method is much simpler, so I’ll explain how it works:
- One bucket is used only for rinsing the wash mitt after washing each car panel. This bucket helps to remove all the bigger dirt and dust particles from the wash mitt.
- The second bucket is where you’ll put your soap. After rinsing the wash mitt in the first bucket, then pour it into the second so it soaks the soap, and you can continue washing the next panel.
For people that like to use the 3-bucket method, the third bucket is used only for washing wheels because the car wheels are usually the dirtiest part of the car.
3. Washing in high heat or direct sunlight
Washing your car during high temperatures or direct sunlight is one of the worst mistakes you can make as a complete beginner in the auto detailing world. When it’s too hot outside, soap will quickly dry on your paint, and it will lose its lubrication properties, meaning that you’ll scratch your car more easily while washing it.
We highly suggest that you avoid washing your car in direct sunlight or during extremely high temperatures. The best way to fix this mistake is either by washing your vehicle in the shade, or you can wash it earlier in the morning and later in the evening because that’s when there’s no direct sunlight and temperatures are much lower.
However, if you can’t avoid it, make sure to keep your car as lubricated as possible all the time. Only wash panel by panel and spray it with water and shampoo all the time; that will ensure there is enough lubrication to safely wash the car without scratching the clear coat.
4. Forcefully removing some stubborn dirt
If there are some stubborn specks of dirt on your car, such as bird droppings, bugs, brake dust, tar, and other hard-to-remove impurities, don’t forcefully scrub it. That way, you’ll be guaranteed to scratch the paint.
There is a dedicated product for most of these specks of dirt, and instead of scrubbing them off like a maniac, you should spray that car area with a specific product that will loosen the dirt and make it easy to wash off.
The most common products for removing those impurities are bug and tar removers, water spot removers, and iron removers. They will help you gently clean your car from the most stubborn dirt without using any physical power. The right chemicals are the solution for everything when it comes to cleaning your vehicle; never use force.
5. Using the wrong methods to dry the car
Last but not least is using the wrong methods to dry the car after washing it. I still see many people using chamois or synthetic deerskin to dry their vehicles. And even though these methods are great for quickly removing all the water from your vehicle, they will always cause marring, swirl marks, and scratches on your car. The reason is that they’re not extremely soft such as microfiber drying towels.
I always suggest you use either microfiber drying towels or some pet hair dryers to dry your vehicle after washing it. These two are the safest ways to dry your car after washing it, and the chances of scratching it are minimal.
Of course, make sure always to use a clean microfiber drying towel. Otherwise, you might screw everything up.
Conclusion
Many people make these five mistakes that we have just talked about. Now, after reading this article, you know what to avoid and, even better, what are the fixes to making those mistakes. Next time you go and wash your car, keep those tips in mind and try to wash your vehicle as gently as possible and with the use of the right products.
That’s the only way you will prevent swirl marks and scratches on your car’s paint while washing it.
Also read: Things That You’ve to Determine for The Selection of The Expert Car Scratch Repair Near Me
