How to wash your car without scratching it
Most fine scratches come from poor washing. The right method is simple and cheap.
The swirl marks that show as circular scratches in sunlight mostly come from washing and drying. A dirty sponge or a dry cloth drags grit across the paint.
What you need
- Two buckets (one for shampoo, one for rinsing)
- pH-neutral car shampoo
- A clean wash mitt or microfibre
- A large, soft drying towel
Step by step
- Start in the shade. Shampoo dries into spots on hot paint.
- Rinse generously first. Most loose grit leaves without touching the paint.
- Mix the shampoo in one bucket and wash from top to bottom. The dirtiest areas (the lower panels) come last.
- Rinse the mitt in the clean bucket after every panel. Do not dip a dirty mitt back into the shampoo bucket; that is the point of the two-bucket method.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Pull, do not rub. Lay the towel flat and draw it straight towards you; avoid circular motion.
What to avoid
- Brush car washes and stiff brushes
- Dish soap (it strips protection)
- Wiping dust with a dry cloth
- Carrying on with a mitt that fell on the ground
If your paint already has swirls, correction may be possible: see our paint correction service.