In most cases, dishwashing soap is the worst thing to wash your vehicle with. Because dishwashing soap is loaded with grease-cutting agents formulated to get your frying pan sparkling clean, it also removes any good oils and waxes from paint surfaces. After washing your car with dishwashing soap, your paint is wide open for damage from a variety of contaminants with no layer of wax to protect it.
There are rare cases where spot washing with dishwashing soap is acceptable. These include repairing small scratches and abrasions, removing thick stains from sap and repairing bird dropping spots. Always re-wax any area you've washed with dishwashing soap, and only use dishwashing soap when specifically directed.
For the most part, no. Any towel can get your auto dry, but not all towels can get it dry without leaving swirl marks. Clean chamois, 100% cotton terry cloth and microfiber cloths are the safest towels to use for car care, as they've been tested to treat your finish without creating abrasions.
When you use an old t-shirt, shop rag or cloth diaper, you're risking abrasions with towels that may have embedded particles of dirt. Or, they may be of a fabric blend that's not soft on your paint. The best way to dry your ride and minimize the risk of scratches is to get a set of safe towels that you keep clean and separate from the rest of your rags.
Once water spots are on your paint, the best way to get rid of them is to rewash the area. If you didn't dry your car right, you could have water spots everywhere. Ever hear the tired phrase, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?" Don't ignore it this time-prevention really is the best way to deal with water spots.
First, carefully pick the place and time you wash your car. Staying out of the heat and direct sunlight is critical to avoiding water spots. Next, be sure to dry your ride immediately after washing. Don't let it air dry, and don't try to drive it dry. The only way to get the most out of your car wash is to take the time to dry it right and prevent water spots.
If you happen to get water spots on chrome trim, try rewashing the area to remove them. If the outlines are still visible, try using the corner of a rag soaked in white vinegar. This usually breaks up the water spot and leaves endless reflectivity on your trim. Wash the area after, though-you won't want that vinegar smell hanging around.
For most vehicles, opening your hood and turning the hose on full blast is a really bad idea. What used to be a gem of auto shop teaching advice is now a terrible idea, thanks to modern electronics that dominate your engine compartment. The same tactics that were great for keeping the dirt from settling on a small-block Chevy V8 three decades ago would absolutely ruin a modern Impala.
To clean your engine compartment without causing costly damage, you have two choices: carefully spot clean with heavy degreasers (being extremely careful not to get these degreasers on your paint), or wrapping all exposed electrical connections with plastic and spraying with a hose. Be sure that if you have a performance air intake with an exposed filter that it stays dry, too.
For most wheels, household cleaners are not recommended for use. They contain acids and other solutions that cause damage to the surface and streaks in plated finishes. The best cleaner for all wheels is soap and water or a wheel-specific degreaser.
If you care about the look of your paint, then spray paint is a terrible idea for touch-up. If you couldn't care less and just want to stop rust, go right ahead. Even if you have black or white paint, your standard off-the-shelf spray paint looks horrible when laid on top of a modern clear coat automotive finish. Please, for the good of those who have to look at your ride, don't use spray paint for touch up work.
Touch-up work on these bumpers is tricky-especially if the mark you're trying to fix is on a curved portion of the bumper. Paints applied to these parts are treated with a special flex agent to prevent color layer cracking. If you're dealing with a mark in one of these areas, ask a pro at the shop where you get your touch up paint for tips on working flex agent into your repair work.
There could be many reasons why your paint has swirl marks. Even new cars on the dealership lot have tiny abrasions in the surface, despite the care and attention a new vehicle receives. Swirl marks are just incredibly hard to avoid.
The more common causes of swirl marks include using abrasive towels to dry, washing with a scratch-causing mitt, using dirty materials in washing or drying, or setting your perfectly safe towels and applicators where they can pick up harmful particles. Once used, these abrasives are rubbed across your finish, etching tiny swirls into the clear coat.
Though swirl marks are nearly impossible to avoid, there are a few steps you can take to minimize their visibility. Use only safe towels, keep them clean and never set them down on the bare ground. If you suspect that your at-home wash is causing the marks, change all of your mitts, brushes and towels out for safe ones. If it is a pro wash causing the swirls, think about washing at home where you have the control.