A CAR cleaning expert has shared five car cleaning mistakes drivers should avoid if they want to keep their motor in top condition.
With the cost of living crisis biting, many drivers will choose to do the job themselves, rather than forking out for an expensive professional car washing service.
A car cleaning expert has shared five car cleaning mistakes drivers should avoid
Household cleaners like wipes or Windex can damage your infotainment screen Getty Images
But it’s also important to pay attention to the products you use, because they can damage your car, too.
This is especially important now that spring is upon us and great driving weather is ahead – most drivers want their car to look and feel its best.
Here are five common car cleaning mistakes to avoid as you take your beloved machine out of hibernation.
Damage to your infotainment screen
These screens can be particularly vulnerable to damage.
They tend to pick up fingerprints, smudges, and germs, and it can be tempting to reach for a wipe to clean them off.
However, household cleaners like wipes or Windex can damage your infotainment screen, as many screens come with an anti-reflective coating from the factory that these products will destroy.
Don’t leave wax on for too long
If you leave the wax on the car for too long, it becomes hard and very difficult to remove.
It won’t hurt your car’s paint, but it will make removing the wax extremely difficult.
And it’s best to start with one section of the vehicle and then move on to the next.
Don’t use one towel for all tasks
Colour coding can help a lot here – towels used for cleaning windows should be all of one colour, for example.
Using a towel that previously had window cleaning fluid on it will lead to streaks even if it has been washed.
Never wash the wheels last
If you wait to do the wheels as the final step, all the caked-on brake dust and dirt you are spraying away from wheels/tires can get on the nice clean paint that you just finished.
Don’t clean your car’s paintwork with washing up liquid
The expert says that this is the most common mistake that drivers make when cleaning their cars.
Washing up liquid is made specifically to break down and remove grease, so it will strip any wax or paint sealant from surfaces on your car.
Although it gets the car clean, dish soap will cause more harm than good and can even dull the paint.
Dedicated car cleaning soaps are designed to be effective and safe on automotive finishes.
Another cleaning car expert shared a super hack for a fresh-smelling interior – and it will cost you nothing.
Plus, a professional car cleaner claim that most drivers clean their wrong.