The Easy Water-Wise Way To Wash Your Car

With the latest water restrictions in many parts of the country, car owners need to think twice about how they will keep their vehicles clean. Leaving dirt to pile up isn’t an option either.

AVERAGE CAR WASH WATER USAGE
Hosepipe Washing	Bucket Washing
450 litres	32 litres

“If average household water consumption was cut by 20% today, it would contribute significantly to building the ten-year water reserve needed to avoid future water cuts,”

While the country is experiencing its worstdrought in a century, water scarcity in South Africa is not going to go away any time soon, and in fact is set to worsen. As responsible citizens how do we adapt to accommodate this problem?

Previous to the water reduction policy, we thought nothing of sending our car off for a luxury spa bath every so often - we love our cars, after all. Sometimes even lovingly washing, waxing, and polishing it ourselves. All this energy spent is a good thing because it goes along way to keeping your car looking as good as new for as long as possible. But only if you’re doing it the correct way, or you could be inadvertently causing more damage than good.

This is how we recommend washing your car for the good of the car and the good of the planet, which ultimately benefits you and future generations.

The Green Method

Don’t use a hosepipe. This method, however convenient it may be, is wasteful and actually no longer fashionable! The water-wise way is to use buckets, and done right works very well.

To wash the outside of your car, you willneed:

1. 2 buckets
2. 1 microfibre washing cloth
3. 1 microfibre rinsing cloth
4. 2 super-absorbent microfibre drying cloths
5. 1 micro fibre glass cloth
6. 1 sponge or soft bristle brush for the wheels

Method:

• Park your car under shade and out of the sun and heat.
• Fill buckets with clean water.
• If the car is very dirty, remove as much lose dirt and dust as possible with a soft feather duster.
• Start washing from the top down with microfibre cloth.
• Use car shampoo sparingly to release grease and non-water-soluble grime. More suds doesn’t equate to a cleaner car. In fact it makes it more difficult to rinse, and leaves more streaks. Choose mild and gentle rather than harsh detergents. 
• Wash the wheels and tyres last with the sponge or soft bristle brush.
• Rinse off with the second bucket of water and clean microfibre cloth.
• Dry off the body panels with the super absorbent microfibre cloths, leaving the wheels last.
• Dry and polish the windows and mirrors with the glass micro fibre cloth while the windows are slightly damp and not too wet.
• Lastly polish the paintwork, bumpers, and tyres.

Over time sun, salt, bird droppings, treesap, and other environmental factors takes their toll on a vehicle’s paintwork.To maintain that new car finish, when you buy a quality used car from AutoPedigree, you have the option to choose our three year AutoShine Paint Protection Warranty.

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