What You Should Know Before Washing Your Vintage Car

If you’re the owner of a beautiful vintage car, you’re going to want to put forth the effort to wash it regularly to make sure it’s free of any abrasive grime, dust or chemicals that can ruin its paint and wax jobs. There are some precautions you’ll need to take to make sure you give your car the best-looking (and safest) wash possible.

Here are some tips from a mechanic in Minneapolis, MN about how you should wash and care for your vintage car.

Wash at the right times

If your car sees any sort of regular use, you’re going to want to wash it weekly. This might not be necessary if you keep it stored in a garage or under a tarp, but the general standard is that the more you use it, the more you’ll need to wash it. This is especially true if you plan on taking your car to any classic car shows or events.

Do not let bugs, bird droppings, grease, grime or other contaminants sit on the car. The longer you let them stay on, the harder they will be to get off and the more likely it is that they’ll damage your paint and finish.

Be prepared to wash correctly

When you’re going to give your car a good wash and wax, make sure you have all the proper tools and equipment to ensure you don’t accidentally damage your car or wreck its finish while you’re washing it. Most professional car washes use foam spray machines and soft water to help prevent damage to vehicles. The general idea is that you don’t want to use any overly harsh chemicals or materials that could wreck your finish.

Keep this in mind when washing your vintage car yourself. Try to use very soft washing mitts made of materials like sheepskin or cotton chenille—they won’t leave behind any marks when used on your vehicle’s body, and will glide along the surface smoothly, fitting into many of the smallest nooks and crannies. This will help you get the job done quicker, especially compared to using massive sponges.

Follow all the proper steps

Know the steps to a good car wash. You should always start at the top, because this will prevent grime from falling down into sections of the car you’ve already cleaned off. Make sure you’re using a soap designed for washing cars—many people use dish soap from their kitchen, but this is a mistake, as dish soap can be very harsh on cars and can dull the paint. The very last part of the wash should focus on the wheels, as this is where most of the dirt and grime is going to be built up.

Once you’ve washed the vehicle, thoroughly rinse the entire car and get off all soap suds with a steady stream of water. This will ensure your car is spot free once you drive it again.

For more tips about washing your vintage car, contact a mechanic in Minneapolis, MN at Quality Coaches, Inc.

Categorised in: Mechanic

This post was written by Sharon Morgan