Sprucing
up your ride? There are plenty car care products on the market to help you do
it but knowing which ones to use can be a challenge. Like, do you really need
wax AND polish?
We’ll
answer that question as we look at 5 types of products to give your vehicle an
awesome shine!
Car Wash Soap
Car
wash soap is meant to clean all kinds of outdoor dirt and grime from your
vehicle without damaging the automotive paint or removing the wax. Avoid liquid
detergents, dish cleaners, and anything other than car wash soap.
There
are some pricey car wash soaps but, if you shop around, you’ll find affordable
brands that do a good job. Some brands include wax but they won’t be necessary
if you intend to give your car a good waxing after washing.
Wash Mitts
“Clean”
is the operative word when it comes to wash mitts. Always start with a clean
mitt and clean it after ever use. Also, keep the mitts used for washing the
paint, windows and wheels separate. Some experts even suggest using different
mitts for the upper and (usually dirtier) lower sections of the vehicle.
The
preferred mitt materials are microfiber and lambswool. Microfiber mitts are
much cheaper and work very well at grabbing and holding dirt.
Glass Cleaners
Grimy
windshields, windows and mirrors are a safety hazard. Don’t be tempted to use
household window and glass cleaners on them, however, as these contain ammonia
which can damage the surface of your automobile’s glass.
Look
for auto glass cleaners which are haze and streak free. There are also those
which go beyond simply removing dirt. They add a protective layer to the glass
to help repel dirt. Or, you could go with self-cleaning windows, instead.
Wheel Cleaners
Wheels
tend to be the dirtiest parts of your car. To spruce them up, you’ll need a
cloth (used only on the wheels), a scrub brush and a cleaner designed
specifically for wheels. Plus, the wheel cleaner you buy should be formulated
for your type of wheels. Strong cleaners like those for chrome, aluminum or mag
wheels are too harsh for other types. If in doubt, go with a wheel cleaner
labelled safe for all wheel types.
Car Wax and Polish
Car
polish is abrasive and it smooths out the paint and protective coat as you rub
it on. This causes the paint to reflect light more evenly. In other words, it
makes the car shine! Wax is also shiny but it’s non-abrasive and adds a
protective layer against UV rays, dust, acid rain and other airborne
pollutants.
It’s
recommended that you wax every couple of months and go a little longer between
polishing. Car
waxes you should consider if you want to keep your vehicle
looking bright till its next polish, are those called cleaner waxes. They
contain very fine abrasives for an extra shine.
Everyone
can appreciate that few things are as satisfying as rolling out in a car that’s
clean and shiny, inside and out. So, grab your wax AND polish, add a little
elbow grease and bring on that shine!
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