THE BASICS
1.
Kosilla recommends cleaning your car every other week and giving it a full detailing at least twice a year.
If your car lives outside, some materials can freeze in the cold and bake in the hot sun.
Now is the time to ditch them.
Sponges hold a whole lot of dirt.
And people aren’t really throwing sponges into the washing machine.
Theyre kind of just leaving them in the bucket and waiting for the next wash, Tran says.
Same thing for the chamois.
Instead of sponges, mitts and chamois, it is best to use quality microfiber towels.
Detailers Preference is a great quality pick.
Amazon Basics is a great budget pick.
Mequiars is right in the middle.
Kosilla uses lighter towels for more sensitive areas, and darker ones for the filthier regions.
You really want to separate them, he says.
Keep clean in dirty weather
Most people wash their car when the weather is pleasant.
Protect yourself
If you use chemical cleansers, see to it your skin and vulnerable areas are covered.
CLEANING THE INTERIOR
7.
Its important to clean these places thoroughly.
Open up the front and back doors and the hatch, Kosilla says.
While youre doing it, youre assessing the interior, looking at everything youre pulling out.
He suggests you have a garbage can nearby to toss trash and other items.
You should never drag across the car going from the drivers side to the passenger side, Kosilla says.
Now you have extra work to do.
For these, Tran recommends using a small appliance you might have around the house.
For example, if you have a leather interior, leather absorbs water like crazy.
And because it’s an organic matter, once it swells, it’s not coming back.
And you got this weird poofy spot on your seat.
Spray onto the towel, and then take that and wipe the surface, she says.
Kosillas company, Ammo, makes detailing sprays, including ones specifically for leather, plastic and vinyl.
Meguiars and Chemical Guys are also recommended products.
