By Every black car owner knows the pain of keeping their vehicle looking its best. Scratches, swirl marks, and water spots are much more noticeable on black cars than on any other car color—they could leave your car looking hideous if not taken care of. For this reason, you must take extra care when washing your black car. And this post will help you do just that, covering everything you need to know about washing a black car to give it a professional look.
Materials Needed to Wash a Black Car
You do not need to do a lot to clean a black car. It is, however, important that you pay attention to the type and quality of the materials. This will help you make the right choice and reduce the risk of scratches, swirl marks, and water spots when washing. On that note, here is a list of the materials needed for the washing process.
1. Car Wash Soap/Solution
While often overlooked, you should put more time and attention into choosing the best car wash soap for your black car. As much as you may want to go for regular dishwashing or laundry soap to save time and cost, they do more harm than good—they can damage your car paint, defeating the purpose of the wash entirely.
For the best results, you want to choose a car wash soap with a safe and effective formula. You could also go for newer products since black car wash soaps are constantly being improved. If unsure, here are some of the best car wash soaps for your black car in 2022.
2. Wash/Skin Mitts
Using standard sponges can save you some cash. However, If you’re searching for how to wash your black car without scratching it, you must avoid them at all costs. Instead, you should consider going for wash or skin mitts with highly absorbent and extra-plush materials which do not scratch your car or leave swirl marks. You should also consider a mitt that fits snugly on your hand for added convenience when washing your black car.
3. Microfiber Brush/Cloth
Microfiber car wash brushes/cloths are used to sweep dust and dirt from the surface of your car. They are made of soft microfiber, so do not scratch or leave swirl marks on your car. It is advisable to go for brushes with adjustable or scalable handles for the added maneuvering capabilities, but you can do just fine with regular ones.
4. Clay Bar
Clay bars are natural or synthetic compounds designed to help eliminate unwanted particles such as industrial fallout, metal dust, and so on from your car surface, creating a spotless appearance.
5. Buckets
You will need two buckets. The first is to hold water, while the second is for soap. Regular plastic buckets will work. However, it is much better if you can get the ones with grit guards. Buckets with handles are also easier to handle (pun not intended).
6. Wax
Lastly, you will need a wax. The function of the wax is to leave a protective coating on your car. It prevents the surface from fading while giving it a nice glossy finish. It also protects your car’s surface from UV rays and industrial pollutants.
Waxes are of various kinds, including paste wax which is very easy to apply, liquid wax, which offers a long-lasting shine, and spray wax which is convenient for regularly driven vehicles. All of them work efficiently, so it’s a matter of which suits you best.
Now you know everything you need to wash your black car, here’s how to actually go about it.
Steps to Follow When Washing Your Black Car
Step 1: Give Your Car a Soapless Cleanse
Begin by using a hose or buckets of water to wash away any dirt or debris. Ensure you do this in a shaded area with drains for excess water to flow. Avoid direct sunlight and make sure the water is cool or lukewarm. Do not use too-hot water.
When using a hose, do not set the water pressure too high. Just enough to spray off the immediate contaminants on your car exterior. It is best to start from the rear and work your way towards the front thoroughly. Also, ensure you pay enough attention to the wheels as they are the dirtiest part of the car.
Step 2: Wash Your Car More Thoroughly With Soap
Soak your wash mitts in a soapy solution in one of the two buckets and fill the other with water. Wash the car in sections using straight-line motions. Begin from the top (usually the least dirty portion) to the bottom (usually the dirtiest). Be sure to take note of bird droppings and splattered bugs.
Also, rinse the wash mitts in the other bucket from time to time to keep it clean. This helps to ensure you do not spread the grime and grit back on your car surface and eliminate the extra dirt that could potentially leave scratches. Finally, ensure you replace the water in the bucket when it becomes murky.
Step 3: Address Stubborn stains
Here, you are going to be making use of your clay bar. Scrub gently with it to remove extra stubborn stains. Make sure you do not apply too much pressure to reduce the risk of damaging or scraping the surface of your black car.
Step 4: Rinse Everything Off
Rinse off all the soap and dirt using your hose. Then rinse again by section, starting from top to bottom.
Step 5: Blot Dry and Apply Wax to Your Car
Here, the microfiber towel comes into play. Use it to blot-dry the surface of your vehicle. This process is essential as it helps to ensure no water spots are left on the surface of your car. Ensure to wipe down swiftly before the water dries up, but cautiously.
Next, apply a wax coating to shield your car from potential scratches in the future. It will also give your black car a glossy finish.
Now that you know how to wash your black car properly, it’s time to get soapy and start washing!
FAQs
How Often Do You Need to Wash a Black Car?
While there is no exact specification on how often you need to wash your black car, it depends on how often and in what weather your car is driven. You should consider washing your car every two weeks if you drive daily. The weather and the state of roads also play a big part in determining how quickly your car could get dirty.
Is It Safe to Use a Waterless Wash on a Black Car?
Some of these products have been improved over the years. Irrespective of that, there is no guarantee that it won’t harm your car paint. However, for persons living in apartments and who do not own a pressure washer, ensure you are going for the best product and when washing, make sure you use enough of the product to lubricate the dirt away from the paint.
Can You Wash a Black Car in Sunlight?
Although it is generally advised not to wash your car under direct sunlight, this may be unavoidable in some circumstances. Properly washing a car in sunlight is much more difficult to pull off but not impossible.
A tip for washing a black car without water spots in sunlight is to wash in sections. When washing your black car under direct sunlight, do so in small portions; washing, rinsing and drying each before the next. This way, you are ensuring that the soap only stays on the car surface for not more than a few minutes before being rinsed off and dried. This reduces the risk of water spots formed by the quickly evaporating water.
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