Cars are the most common form of transportation, and for some this means they get daily use. After a while, all of that use will start to show on your vehicle. All of that dirt is not only unpleasant to look at, but can lead to some long-term damage if not taken care of.
Setting Up for Success
With a pressure washer, you can wash away all of the years of built-up dirt and grime on your car in less than a day. Of course, before you get to washing the car, you need to know what to buy. For starters, you will need a pressure washer, but the question is what kind? While usually you would want a gas-powered washer for cleaning things like driveways, the power they contain can damage your car if you are not careful. An electric pressure washer will have a lower PSI, so they are safer to use than a gas-powered washer. If you have to use a gas-powered washer, a good rule of thumb is to stay between 1200-1900 PSI.
With the rate at which they expel water, pressure washers can be dangerous tools. When cleaning your car, having bare skin visible can lead to severe injury if the washer is to malfunction or if you were to sweep a part of your body on accident. To prevent yourself from being injured, it is recommended you use PPE, or personal protective equipment. This includes items like protective eyewear, closed-toed shoes, and more.
Of course, in order to clean your car effectively, you will also need detergent. When looking for detergent, it is important to keep in mind that it has to be usable with a pressure washer and safe for cars. Once it is obtained, you should check whether your pressure washer is capable of applying the detergent. Most pressure washers have built-in systems for detergent, but if it doesn’t, you can always buy an attachment that can apply the detergent too.
Ready to Clean
Getting the materials is only half the battle. It is important that you know how to clean your car safely and effectively. When preparing the pressure washer, there are a few things you should keep in mind. If the washer has one, make sure its PSI setting is low. It’s better to build up to the PSI you need than to accidentally damage the car. Also, make sure you are only using the white (40º) and green (25º) nozzles. Any smaller, and you risk damaging your car. When you are finally ready to wash the car, keep in mind the ‘six-twelve’ rule. Stay six inches away from paint and twelve inches away from trim.
Keeping that in mind, you can now start washing the car. To start, you should rinse the car until it is free of any debris that might get in the way of the detergent. Once you have done so, then the detergent comes next. Apply the detergent with a soap nozzle if provided, otherwise the white nozzle (40º) should suffice. If there is no built-in detergent system, apply by hand with a cloth instead. After the entire car is covered in the detergent, let it sit for approximately five minutes, but make sure it doesn’t dry. After that, rinse it off with the white (40º) nozzle. Always start at the top and work your way down. If you don’t, you will have to hit areas a second time to clean them. Once the detergent is gone, all that is left to do is dry the car. You can do this with any soft cloth or towel, but microfiber towels yield the best results.
Driving Off Into the Sunset
With a pressure washer, you can cut the time it takes to clean your car in half, maybe even more. A good wash can prolong the life of your car’s paint job and keep it looking appealing all year long.
