Ringgold Auto Detail Guide to Properly Washing Your Car

Ringgold Auto Detail's Guide to Properly Washing Your Car: Our Tested and Proven Methods!

Step 1: Gather the Right Tools and Products

Before you get started make sure you have all the right tools and supplies. Proper prep is the most important part of any successful task. Fill all your buckets, make sure all your chemicals and soaps are topped off, ensure your tools are clean ready for use, and you have a cool shaded area to work in!

 Here’s what we recommend:

• Two Large Buckets: We use a 3 gallon for soapy water and a 5 gallon with clean water for rinsing wash mitts and body tools. The 3 gallon soap bucket holds more than enough water while saving you quite a bit of soap to complete a full size car wash.
• Grit Guards: Place these in each bucket to help trap and keep dirt particles away from your wash mitts.
• One Wheel Bucket: A 2 Gallon bucket will be more than sufficient for the cleaning of your wheels. Make sure this is a dedicated wheel bucket and never use it for washing the vehicle itself.
• pH-appropriate car shampoo: Avoid dish soaps like dawn or household cleaners, as these can harm and strip your wax or ceramic coating. The type of soap will depend on your cars sealant, ceramic coating, and it's general dirtiness level.
• Wash Mitt or Rag: We prefer a high pile microfiber rag folded into 4's. These 500+gsm rags can be flipped and folded many times vs a 2 sided wash mitt reducing chances for trapped particles to scratch your paint. It also significantly reduces your back and forth trips to the wash bucket. Always use soft and gentle passes across your paintwork to prevent scratches. There is no need to bare down...ever if we're preforming regular maintenance washes.
• Detailing Brushes: Perfect for tight spaces like emblems, wheels, and grilles. Also have a few on hand that are dedicated to the wheels and arches. Contrary to the TikTok detailers your wife's make-up brush does not make for a good detail brush. We prefer the soft brushes from Work-Stuff like the Albino white or Orange brushes.
• Drying Towels: A plush and large microfiber drying towel like the Dreadnought from Autofiber and please stay away from using your bath towels or those shammies... we wouldn't use those on a rust bucket.

Step 2: Pre-Rinse to Remove Loose Dirt.

Start by giving your car a thorough rinse with a pressure washer or hose. This step helps loosen and removes surface dirt, reducing the risk of scratches during the wash. Pay special attention to areas like the lower panels and wheel wells, where grime tends to accumulate. If your vehicle is absolutely filthy maybe think about foaming it up first thing then power rinsing off. We strongly recommend getting a foam cannon and power washer. Make sure to use caution with your pressure washer especially if your using a 3,000+psi gas powered machine.

Step 3: Use the Two-Bucket Wash Method.

The two-bucket system is a game-changer for avoiding swirls and scratches. Here’s how it works:

1. One bucket is filled with soapy water and the other with clean water for rinsing.
2. Dip your wash mitt into the soapy water, clean one section of the car, then rinse the mitt in the clean water bucket before reloading it with soap.
3. Work from the top of the vehicle, around, then down. The dirtiest areas like the lower panels should be washed last.

This method ensures that a majority of the dirt stays out of your soapy water, minimizing the chances of scratching the paint.

Step 4: Rinse and Dry

After washing every section, give the car a final rinse to remove all soap. We recommend using a low-pressure flow or a sheeting rinse to help water slide off the surface. Also getting yourself a DI or water purification system to avoid water spotting can make maintenance washes a breeze in the harsh Chattanooga summers.

To dry the car, use a clean microfiber drying towel or a dedicated car dryer. If you have a ceramic coating, consider using a drying aid to enhance slickness and reduce water spots. Of note: Using drying aids often leads to your drying towels quickly loosing their ability to absorb water even if you wash them immediately after use.

Step 5: Clean the Wheels.

Yeah we know, this is a back backwards from everything you've been told but there is a method to the madness. Your wheels and tires need their own dedicated tools to avoid transferring brake dust and grime to the rest of your car. Use a wheel cleaner compatible with your wheels' finish, along with a brush for the barrels and spokes. Don’t forget to rinse thoroughly the braking system loves to hold onto these strong cleaners!

Step 6: Add the Finishing Touch.

Once your car has been washed, wheels cleaned and rinsed, step back and mop up those pesky water streaks from the mirrors and around your badges. This is why we do the wheels after the body. It allows time for the moldings and other water holding areas to drip out. Now it's time to smile and enjoy the feeling of a fresh beautiful ride ready for a night out in beautiful downtown Chattanooga...or where ever your heart takes you for the day.

Why Proper Washing Matters:

At Ringgold Auto Detail, we see firsthand how drive thru car washes and improper car wash techniques can lead to scratches, water spots, and even damage to ceramic coatings. By following these steps, you’re ensuring a good resale value when the time comes and extending the overall beauty of your car or truck.

Want your car to look even better than when it left the showroom? Schedule a professional detail, paint correction, ceramic coating, or ask us about our monthly maintenance packages to keep your vehicle its best year-round.