Pressure Washing
When you have a pressure washer available, there's nothing better than 1800 PSI of water to help flush out any contaminants on your car.
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If you don't have a pressure washer, a garden hose can also be used, although it may require some extra elbow grease during the scrub phase.
Rinse, foam cannon, scrub, rinse, dry.
1
Rinse your car with the pressure washer
Use an 1800 PSI pressure washer (you can typically pick one up at your local hardware store) to thoroughly rinse the exterior of your car, washing out any large or obvious debris on the paint. We typically recommend using a 15° degree angle nozzle, although this can easily be changed based on your preference.
2
Use a foam cannon to lather the car
Fill your foam cannon with a mix of water and car soap based on your soap's recommended dilution ratio. Spray your car thoroughly with foamy soap and let sit for 5 minutes.
3
Scrub the car with a hand mit
Use a hand mitt and scrub the exterior of your car. Be sure to cover the lower parts of the car as this is often where dirt and grime build up. Clean in straight lines until you have washed the entire car.
4
Rinse thoroughly again
Same as the first step, except you'll want to make sure you get all of the soap off. You can use a step stool to rinse off the top of the car, if safe to do so. It's common to spot scrub as needed for spots that were missed during the initial scrub stage.
5
Use a drying towel to dry the car
Extra large drying towels are designed to absorb a lot of water, and therefore are highly recommend when drying a car. One towel should typically be enough to dry the car, whereas you'll need many small towels to achieve the same results. During the final drying stage, you'll often still need to buff out any debris that still remains. [Note: if you plan on waxing your car after, you can go lighter on the drying phase, as a light coat of water will help you apply the wax more easily by hand.]
Fresh Start Pro Tips ✔Foam cannons are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased online. Be sure it can connect to your pressure line. ✔Be sure to wait at least 5 minutes to let the soap sit on the exterior of the car. This will help loosen up any dirt and grime, making it easier for you to scrub. ✔After you let sit for 5 minutes, you can optionally foam your car again for added lubrication during the scrub phase. ✔Go ahead and use some detail spray while you're drying your car. You can add some shine while you buff out any remaining contaminants. ✔After the washing phase, check out our exterior wax and coatings guide, if you're looking to take your car's look to the next level.