Standard Operating Procedure: Preparing for Washing
- Park car where washing and open all doors, hood, trunk and fuel filler door.
- Remove all floor mats, carpet and rubber and loose objects. Have self closing plastic bags for each area where you find small loose objects and bag and tag em. When finished with the interior, return closed bags to the car interior.
- Asses the engine bay and cover any and all sensitive electronics as needed, also vacuum any leaves or debris from covered areas.
- Using an APC/degreaser, starting from one corner and working your way around. Spray each tire and inner fender well and jamb making your way to the engine, continue around to your starting point. Example ( LR tire, opening of boot area, Gas door, RR Tire, RR door, RF Door, engine front grill area, windshield, LF tire, LF door, LR Door)
- Using a soft bristle brush, agitate all areas like tires, underhood and engine.
- Spray the appropriate wheel cleaner on the wheels and do a quick agitation. We will get back to wheels later.
- Turn on your pressure washer and work your way around the vehicle, Using the same path as stated above. Spray the spots that were degreased and the engine and body.
- With the car wet, you may now address the wheels and get more detailed in your cleaning of them.
- If you have a helper have them start soaping/foaming and washing the car while you address the wheels,
- Soap/foam and scrub
- You may clay at this time if required, use a lubricant
- Rinse
- You may now use a chemical decontamination process, either water spot and tree sap or bug removal, scrub the surface
- Rinse
- Dry
- Use compressed air or blower to help with drying.
NOTE: The floor mats maybe sprayed during step #4 if required, and then rinsed during step #7 and hang to remove heavy water. Preferably, use steam as it dries much faster and use less water. If you are washing your own car, do as you like.