Most scratches on a car do not come from accidents. They come from washing. The good news is that the method that protects your paint is not complicated, it just has to be done in the right order with the right tools. Here is how.
What you need
- Two buckets: one for soapy water and one for rinsing your wash mitt
- A car shampoo made for painted surfaces
- A soft microfibre wash mitt, not a sponge
- A separate brush and cloth for the wheels
- Clean, soft microfibre drying towels
- A hose or pressure washer
Before you start
Wash in the shade, and when the paint is cool. In Cape Town’s summer sun and wind, soap dries on a hot panel within seconds and leaves marks. Early morning or late afternoon works best. Gather everything first so you are not walking across gritty ground with a wet mitt.
Step by step
- Rinse the whole car first. Work from the roof down and flush off as much loose dust and grit as you can before anything touches the paint. This step matters more than any other.
- Foam it if you can. If you have a pressure washer and foam lance, a snow foam pre-wash loosens the dirt further. Our guide to snow foam explains why it helps.
- Do the wheels first. They are the dirtiest part of the car. Use separate tools so brake dust and road grime never touch the paint.
- Wash the paint from the top down. Use light pressure and work one panel at a time. The roof, bonnet and boot lid are usually cleanest, so do them first. The lower panels carry the most grit, so do them last.
- Rinse your mitt after every panel. Dunk it in the rinse bucket and rub it out before going back into the soapy water. This is what the second bucket is for.
- Rinse the car thoroughly, again from the top down, so no soap dries on the paint.
- Dry it with clean microfibre. Lay the towel flat and drag it gently, or blot. Do not scrub. Water left to dry in the sun leaves spots.
Mistakes that scratch paint
- Using a sponge. Sponges trap grit against the surface and drag it across the paint.
- Reusing a dropped mitt. Once it has touched the ground it is full of grit. Swap it for a clean one.
- Washing in direct sun. Soap dries before you can rinse it.
- Wiping a dry, dusty car. A dry cloth on dusty paint is the quickest way to scratch it.
- Skipping the pre-rinse. If you start rubbing straight away, you are rubbing grit into the paint.
- Using harsh household cleaners. They are not made for car paint. Use a car shampoo.
When washing at home is not enough
A careful wash keeps a car clean and stops new scratches. It cannot remove scratches that are already there. If your paint looks dull or hazy even after a good wash, read our guide to swirl marks. A machine polish is what restores it.
And if you would rather not do it yourself, our snowfall wash is R200 and includes a high pressure wash, snow foam, hand dry and a deep vacuum, done at your home or workplace.
Washing in Cape Town: wind, water and timing
Wind is the thing to plan around. A strong south-easter blows fine dust onto wet paint, which then dries as a gritty film, so wash in a sheltered spot and rinse straight away. Check the water-use rules that apply in your area before you wash at home, because water restrictions can be introduced when dams run low.
Drying without scratching
- Use a clean, soft microfibre towel, never a rough cloth.
- Lay the towel on the panel and drag it gently, or blot, instead of rubbing.
- Dry the car straight after the final rinse, before the water dries on its own.
- Keep one set of towels for paint and another for wheels and lower panels.
Not sure whether a wash is all the car needs? See car detailing vs a car wash.
