How to Wash a Car

When you’re driving a brand new Kia Seltos in Omaha, NE, you want to keep it in great shape. You’ll start by sticking to the recommended maintenance schedule, but you can do something more often and even easier to prolong the beauty of your car: wash it! Here’s how to wash a car at home.

How Often to Wash a Car?

How often you wash a car depends on how you drive it. If you’re taking an SUV off-road, you’re going to want to wash it more often than a sedan you keep on the city streets of Bellevue, NE. For the latter, how often to wash a car is every two weeks with regular driving.

How to Wash a Car in Easy Steps

Equipment

Set aside some time and get these supplies ready:

• Car washing solution. Skip the dish soap and ask our parts department for their recommendation.
• Natural sponge or wool mitt
• Garden hose and bucket
• Chamois or terry cloth towels
• Glass cleaner
• Aluminum wheel cleaner
• Clay bar
• Compound with dual-action polisher
• Carnauba or polymer-based wax

Washing Your Car

1. Start at the top by giving your car a thorough rinse to remove dirt and objects that might scratch the paint.
2. Using the car wash solution and a natural sponge or wool mitt, start at the top of the car and scrub. Save the wheels and wheel wells for last. Rinse with fresh, clean water.
3. Use glass cleaner on the windows.
4. Use the wheel cleaner on the wheels, and devote the time to also clean the wheel wells. They’ll likely be the dirtiest part of your car.
5. Sometimes contaminants like tree sap can leave bumps on your car that soap won’t remove. Use the clay bar to buff away these bumps.
6. If you want to repair any small scratches, use 2-4 coats of a compound with a dual-action polisher.
7. Apply a single coat of this polish to the entire car with a terry cloth towel or an orbital buffer for extra shine.
8. Apply an even coat of wax to protect your paint from road salt, UV rays, and corrosions. Let the wax set, then buff it out with a soft towel.

Get More Service Tips From Edwards Kia

Want to know more ways to preserve the beauty of your La Vista, NE ride? Contact our service department with your questions. We can offer guidance on how often to wash a car, or how often to change your oil, based on your driving habits and lifestyle. Turn to the experts at Edwards Kia for all of your car care needs.