5 common car wash mistakes to avoid

5 common car wash mistakes to avoid

Washing your car sounds pretty straightforward, right? How hard can it be to use a power washer or use a sponge and water bucket to clean down the exterior? After washing and rinsing, you can seal off the shine with a fresh coat of wax to finish the detail. However, even simple jobs can become messy and counterproductive when first-time car owners make these rookie car wash mistakes. Here are five glaring errors to avoid.

Leaving swirl marks
One of the most common mistakes first-time car owners commit is washing and wiping down the car surface in circles. You may not realize it immediately, but the circular motion will leave more scratches and dirt marks. Applying pressure while scrubbing is unnecessary as you use soap and a scrub mitt to remove the upper layer of dirt lightly. You must only follow a single downward motion while wiping the wet surface.

Washing the car outdoors
Washing the car under direct sunlight is always counterproductive. If you plan to use soap and some products for the surface, ensure you do that inside the garage or under a tree in some shade. Mainly because soap will dry under direct sunlight and leave spot marks that become difficult to remove. Also, using other products under direct sunlight will reduce potency and trigger a chemical reaction after exposure to UV rays.

Using household cleaners
One of the biggest mistakes that new car owners make is thinking household cleaning products are sufficient for car washing and detailing. But any dish soap or laundry detergent was never produced to wash and detail car surfaces in the first place. The soap is not potent enough and can even trigger a chemical reaction coming in contact with the paint job. Dish soap and laundry detergents contain compounds designed to scrub off dirt and debris from utensils and dirty clothes. These compounds can strip the protective coating over the paint and expose it to weather and pollution. Always buy quality car wash and products suitable for a particular brand and type of vehicle.

Using unclean towels and the same bucket
There’s no point in washing your car with dirty towels or scrubs. You’ll only end up transferring dirt from one surface to the other. Also, use a separate bucket for washing and then rinse off the soap. You wipe off the soap and dirt to empty it into the wash bucket. So have another bucket filled with clean water and use a separate sponge to rinse the surface to avoid leaving soap spots and dirt marks.

Overusing products
Your job only begins after a thorough hose down of the car, applying the final touches for vehicle detailing. Car care products are all a mix of chemicals that can strip the vehicle of its look and feel with overuse. For example, using car wax without understanding the type and potency of the product can ruin the paint job. Some types of long-drying wax products should be left to cure and dry overnight, whereas quick-shine wax products should be wiped off immediately. Leaving the product on surfaces beyond the recommended period will only make it more difficult to remove the product later.

Previous Read

5 easy home improvement hacks to try today

Home improvement projects are exhausting but can be extremely fun if they are thought through and well-researched. If you want to do some renovation or add a new touch to your home, we recommend starting with something small and seeing how far your DIY skills and ambition take you. Of course, the sky’s the limit but let’s start with your door for now. Here are some easy home improvement hacks that you can try. Statement doors This is the first thing anyone notices about your home, so wouldn’t it make sense to work your DIY magic here? Statement doors are a rage right now, and the beauty of it is that while it’s in style, you don’t have to follow any particular style or design. Just go with what resonates with your home decor style. Color it bright, add an expensive door knob, make it look vintage - endless choices to make a statement in your home. Lighting This is very important. Make sure you invest time, money, and energy into adding warmth and ambiance to your home with just the right lighting. The lamps are great; hanging lights are super, too - ensure you can create a comforting and homely vibe. Wouldn’t it be lovely if your guests felt right at home when they visited? Paint color and texture This doesn’t have to be too much. Unless, of course, you are looking to follow any particular theme, a well-painted home does combine everything. If you’re not a fan of any textured walls, pick a pastel, calming color that you can add to your wall. Accessorize the wall with the right paintings, wall hangings, and shelves, and you have an elegant setup. Flooring You’d be surprised at how much character this adds to your home. You can choose several options like wooden, marble, or tiles and decide what theme you would like to go for. Of course, you also must consider factors like budget, cleanliness, accessibility, and such. The marble looks great but costs a fortune! Wood adds a beautiful rustic feel, but it can be prone to termites, or if you live in a humid region, it may spoil the wood. So, pick wisely. Window treatments This is a great idea to add some pop of color to otherwise plain wall paint. You can try out just using bright, bold colors or even look at painting the windows with some design. 

Next Read

8 things one should never clean with paper towels

Wiping surfaces and other items with paper towels is an easy way to clean them quickly. Once the towel has served its purpose, the individual can throw it away and use another. However, some surfaces and products should never be cleaned with paper towels. While one might get that region dry and sparkly clean, it could damage it in the long run. On that note, one should avoid cleaning these eight things with a paper towel. Electronics Several people use paper towels to clean electronics like televisions, laptops, and smartphones, especially the screens. But while it might not look like it, paper towels are abrasive in nature. So when an individual uses the towel, it could scratch the body of the device and even the screen. Instead, one should use a microfiber cloth dedicated to cleaning these surfaces. Cutting boards It's easy to want to wipe a cutting board with a paper towel to soak meat juices because it's convenient and quick. But one should know that the towel might not absorb the liquid as well as it should, causing one to use more, which results in a lot of wastage. A clean, damp cloth that is washable and reusable is better suited to clean cutting boards with such residue. Dusty moldings Cleaning the molding of a ceiling or top of the walls with a paper towel is not the best idea. Such disposable towels are usually brittle and may wither away when it brushes across the surface. One should use a wet microfiber cloth to clean moldings as these are sturdier and suitable for scrubbing tough dirt. Textured surfaces Textured surfaces like brick and grout are often difficult to clean because of their deeper grooves. So, if one cleans the surface with a paper towel, they are likely to get pieces of the disposable towel lodged in the textured region. An ideal alternative would be to use an old toothbrush to brush out stains. Rugs Trying to clean household rugs with a paper towel is a mistake that many people regret immediately. Residue from the paper towel might get lodged in the fibers of the rugs and make it much more tedious to remove. The ideal cleaning option is to use a dedicated cleaning solution, brush, or vacuum cleaner based on the mess that needs cleaning. Glass windows People sometimes use disposable towels to clean their glass windows at home. While this might look like it's working, there are often specks of lint that get left behind, which is a little more difficult to clean. One of the best cleaning essentials for windows are microfiber cloths, coffee filters, or an old t-shirt. Eyewear Eyewear, like reading glasses, usually have a protective film to keep them safe and offer clearer vision. Since paper towels are abrasive, using them to lean such eyewear may result in scratches, consequently deteriorating clarity. One should stick to a dedicated liquid solution or microfiber cloth to clean eyewear. Dishes Paper towels are usually made with chlorine and formaldehyde, which are chemical byproducts that get left behind when rubbed on dishes and silverware. Using it to dry washed dishes like glasses and plates could leave residue on them that could be harmful to the body if ingested with food. Air-drying dishes are a much safer alternative to paper towels.

Our Blogs

Top 10 cat food deals to check out ahead of Black Friday 2022

Top 10 cat food deals to check out ahead of Black Friday 2022

Black Friday will be here soon, presenting pet parents an opportunity to stock up on food for their feline friends without spending a lot. There will be plenty of discounts from the top pet food brands, including Royal Canin and Purina. But if you cannot wait until then, check out these ten fantastic deals that are available right now. Take your time researching well and pick the healthiest options for your cat! Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-free Healthy Weight Recipe Dry Cat food This grain-free recipe ensures your pet gets the proper nourishment and maintains a healthy weight. Besides promoting weight control, it supports the muscles and improves digestive health. The product is already available at a discount of 7% on Chewy, but you can expect a better deal during the year-end sale. Wellness Healthy Indulgence Gravies Grain-free Variety Pack This variety pack makes mealtimes quick and easy. Created by nutritionists and veterinarians, the recipes are enriched with the finest ingredients to promote your cat’s well-being. Petco is offering a discount of 5%, but you can get it at an even lower price by opting for repeat delivery. Tiki Cat Queen Emma Luau Variety-pack Grain-free Canned Cat Food You can save 10% on this variety pack from Tiki Cat at Chewy.
Read More
20 Black Friday 2022 unmissable furniture deals

20 Black Friday 2022 unmissable furniture deals

If you’ve been waiting for Black Friday to make a big-ticket furniture purchase, now’s the time, especially if you’re searching for something, like a sofa or mattress. We’ve seen savings of up to 50% in recent years, so browsing the bargains may really help keep prices down, which is crucial, considering the cost of living. Also, remember to bookmark websites that offer information on the current Black Friday furniture bargains. Metal and wood platform bed frame On Amazon, the ZINUS Suzanne 37-inch Metal and Wood Platform Bed Frame could drop to $189 (was $220), a $31 savings. Bathroom vanity Last year, the Lark Manor Burchard 36′′ Single Bathroom Vanity Set was available for $549.99 (down from $724.99). Add this to your shopping list to save $175 at Wayfair. Floor lamp The AllModern Finton 60.25-Inch Tripod Floor Lamp might be available for $149, a 44% reduction. That’s a deal you don’t want to lose on. Queen-sized bed frame Last Black Friday, the Plank Beam PB312-002 Solid Wood Queen-Size Bed in White was on sale for $270.74 (down from $319). On Amazon, that is a 37% discount. Coffee table Cumka Coffee Table Teak Resin 23.6′′ is anticipated to retail at Walmart for $205.60, a 30% discount.
Read More