How to Wash Your Car in 20 Minutes or Less

Does washing the car seem like a daunting task? Do you even have the tools or the time to make it happen? Should you just run to the carwash? These are all questions that run through your mind as your car starts to get dirty. I am here to share my tips and secrets for washing your car in less than 20 minutes.

First we need some supplies…

• 2 Buckets

• Car wash soap

• Wash mitt

• Hose

• Drying towel

If you’re starting from zero, you should be able to get all of these supplies at your local auto parts store.

Step 1 - Fill both buckets

Why 2 buckets, you ask? One will be the clean, soapy water. The other you’ll fill with only water. This will be your dirty water bucket, which I will explain further soon.

Step 2 - Pre-rinse the car

Spray down the whole vehicle with water. This does a few things. First, it allows you to blast off the first layer of bugs, bird droppings, mud, and grime so that you don’t get all of that junk caught in your wash mitt. Secondly, it helps provide more lubrication for the next step.

Step 3 - Hand wash the vehicle

You’ll want to start from top to bottom. Why? Because the bottom of the vehicle is much dirtier than the top, generally speaking. You want to avoid just spreading the grime around to the rest of the car.

Wash one panel with your soapy wash mitt. When you’re done with a section, dunk and wring out your wash mitt in the dirty water bucket, and watch as all of that loose debris comes out. Now you can dunk it back in the soapy water and resume cleaning with a fresh wash mitt. Once you’re done just give the whole car a good rinse, making sure not to leave behind any soap, especially on the roof.

Step 4 - Dry the vehicle

Drying is where most people scratch up their paint. Here are a few tips to avoid doing that.

First, you could use something like P&S BeadMaker as a drying aid. This will help sop up the water and provide lubrication. You also want to make sure you’re using a quality, microfiber drying towel. Again, you can get this at any auto parts store or even Wal-Mart. Another tip is to dry your vehicle with a damp towel. This sounds counter productive, but a damp, wrung out drying towel is more absorbent than a dry one, and it will also glide over the paint much easier. These steps will ensure a quick, scratch free dry.

And that’s it! You’re done! Remember this is just a wash, not a detail. We could talk for days about wheel cleaning, different brushes, foam cannons, pre soaking chemicals, etc. These steps will get the general muck and grime off of the car, and you’ll realize how much better a humans touch can do than the carwash! Plus, you’ve spent the same or less time as you would’ve if you’d have driven all the way to the wash, and doing it at home is much cheaper, all while providing a far better end result!

If you have any questions about washing your vehicle, feel free to reach out to us for some tips! Happy washing!