According to the https://www.carwash.org, more than two billion cars are washed annually in over 80,000 professional car wash facilities in North America. However, many people still like to wash it themselves to avoid the expense but often do not get the desired results due to faulty technique. Some tips on how to wash your car and leave it clean and shiny:   

Don’t: Wash Your Car in Direct Sunlight

While washing your car in the open during the day is recommended, since you can see more clearly the areas that are dirtier and need more attention, professionals’ advice not to wash cars in direct sunlight. This is because when the body is hot, the water you use to clean the car dries up more quickly and even before you can wipe it leaving ugly spots all over the body and glass. The best way of avoiding this is to wash your car in the shade or in the early morning or evening when the sun is not hot. Try to dry it quickly with a cloth before the water dries up naturally.

Use the Right Kind of Soap

Most people who do not know otherwise tend to think that a dirty car is best cleaned with dish wash detergents since they do such an effective job cleaning greasy dishes at home. However, using strong soaps should be avoided for car washing as they strip off the wax and make the paint look dull. As a result, you end up with a car that may be clean but lifeless, as the paint would have lost its glossy shine. You should always use a soap specially formulated for washing cars unless you want to strip the wax off your car deliberately.
Avoid Ground Contact
If you happen to drop a washcloth, a mitt, or a detailing rag accidentally, you should never pick it up and use it again. This is because once it makes contact with the ground; it collects tiny particles of sand and dirt that will result in scratches on your paintwork for sure. Make sure you pick up these items and get them machine washed before you use them again. The best way of ensuring a clean and scratch-free car is to have some extra towels and mitts to use if you do drop something by chance.

Rinse the Wash Cloth or Mitt Carefully

It is very important to keep the cloth or the mitts that you are using absolutely clean even as they are collecting dirt from the surface of the car you are washing. You should ideally have a second bucket in which you can thoroughly rinse the cloth before dipping it again the soap water kept in the first bucket to wash the car. Doing this religiously will keep your car free from accidental scratches.

Conclusion

For best results wash your car in the shade with clean water and washcloth with a good brand of car wash soap. Regular cleaning will keep your car clean and shiny and also be a joy to drive about in.