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Five Things Not to Do When Washing Your Car

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Washing your car regularly is a fundamental way to protect your investment; each wash and rinse prevents corrosive substances from damaging your car and keeps your ride looking shiny and new. And the process is relatively simple — soap plus water equals clean, right? Technically, yes. But even the simplest process has room for mistakes. So, the next time you put suds in the bucket to wash your car, avoid the following missteps.

A hot day seems like the perfect time to wash your car, but washing it in the hot sun will leave your car speckled with water spots, reports Good Housekeeping Writer Lauren Smith who sought advice from Carolyn Forte, director of the GH Institute Cleaning Lab. Instead, Forte recommends scheduling your car washing chore for the evening or first thing in the morning.

Dish soap is only good for de-greasing pots, pans, and dishes.

“While dish detergent is handy in the kitchen, you shouldn’t use it on your car. It’s too harsh on the car’s paint, and might result in scratches that look like spider webs,” reports Smith.

Prevent your car’s antenna from bringing gunk into the interior by using a sheet of wax paper on it, writes Smith.

If you only have one bucket, it’s time to head to the store to buy another one; rinsing your car with the soapy water you just used to clean can cause scratches in the paint since it will retain some of the dirt you just removed from your car, according to Smith’s source, Rachel Rothman, Chief Technologist and head engineer of the GH Institute.

Don’t be in a hurry to roll down your windows; according to Smith, rolling down your windows too soon will result in water streaks down the sides of your car; keep them up for at least two to three hours after you put away your car washing stuff.

Don’t let your car washing efforts go to waste by making the above mistakes.

News Source: Good Housekeeping