Washing the car at home

Keeping your car clean can pay big dividends when it comes time to sell. But there are many owners who also like the look and feel of a car that's had some care and attention lavished on it.

It's not necessary to go overboard however. Washing the car at home is convenient and affordable, and your pride and joy usually comes up sparkling at least as well as it would after a visit to a commercial car wash.

A good clean every week is essential. Road muck, tree sap, bugs and bird bombs are just some of the insidious spoilers of paintwork, chrome and plastics.

You'll need a bucket of lukewarm water soaped with suitable car wash cleaner, another bucket of clean water for rinsing the sponge, a clean sponge and a soft touch. We strongly advise against using dishwashing detergents, which can eat away at your car's protective clear coat, not to mention the paint underneath.

Wash your vehicle on grass if possible. That way the lawn gets a good watering and it stops soaps and detergents from going down the drains and entering our waterways.

Start from the roof down and do a section of the car at a time, wetting, washing, rinsing and drying before moving on. This reduces the risk of spotting and streaking.

Press gently. You're trying to remove the dirt, not pound it in to your paintwork, risking potential scratching or etching. Dip the sponge in the water bucket regularly to remove all dirt, grit and muck. That way you won't reapply it with the next wipe. And consider emptying and refilling the rinse bucket with clean water; don't try to make one bucket last the entire car wash.

Finally, use different sponges, rags or cloths for different sections (like the wheels) to avoid cross-contamination of dirt. And dry the car when you're finished with a chamois or pure cotton towels in wide, sweeping motions.

If you're a regular daily driver who covers around 20,000km a year, your car can use all the help it can get in our tough climate.

In that case, your car will benefit from an application of wax every three months. Cars that are garaged every night, are used sparingly during the day and only travel short distances in the suburbs can usually go longer before needing a wax. Depending on the scenario, six to 12 months might be fine for a car that is otherwise coddled.

As with detergents, make sure you use automotive wax or polish that has been formulated specifically for automotive finishes. The stuff Granny uses to brighten up her silverware just won't do. And unless you're driving something from the very early years of motoring, brass polish is to be avoided also.

Divide the car into five manageable sections -- roof, left-side, right-side, front and back, since wax that dries is hard to remove.

Add a small, light coat of wax or polish on a folded cloth.

Apply in a small, even and circular motion until the area is fully covered.

After a few minutes, use another clean cloth to wipe away wax or polish residue in the same motion as it was applied.

Always apply and wipe in the same direction for consistency's sake.

Make sure neither the car nor the sun's rays are too hot, as it could result in stubborn to remove wax or unsightly streaks and splotches.

A word of warning too: the days of 'cut and polishing' are over. Most cars less than 30 years old should not be subjected to cutting and polishing. There are soft burnishing compounds available to remove light scratches and 'fur' but a strong cutting compound will cut away the shiny clear coat and leave a matt finish and a need for a respray. Use only polishes marked clear coat safe.

Professionals recommend cars be detailed every 18 months or so. It's in the interests of professional detailers to suggest that, of course. Again, if you keep your car in cotton wool and it's garaged every night, you may not feel the expense is justified. Much of what the detailers do the average owner can undertake at home, saving a few hundred bucks.

However, detailers can take care of those niggling little issues, such as removal of small but unsightly surface marks or scratches. As an added bonus, you get that 'new car feeling' which can mean more enjoyment from your vehicle.

Detailing can also extend the life of some of the your car's more vulnerable trim – like plastic bumpers, dash mouldings and carpets. It may be worth the expenditure if you're planning to sell the car, because detailing can often make the difference between a car that's basically presentable and one that looks flawless in the online advertisement.

When cleaning your pride and joy, make sure you:

And whatever you do, avoid:

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Related: Which detergents to use washing a car

This article was originally published in 2008, but has been recently updated
Pictures courtesy of Pexels