Whether a car is $5000, $10,000, or $50,000, it will always be an important investment. That is why every owner needs to treat it as such. No matter how expensive or inexpensive your vehicle is, it will still require some level of care and maintenance from you. Of course, I am not talking about trying to be an expert on engines or a mechanic, but you should have the obligation of cleaning it once in a while. Although, if you properly want to clean it, you will need a few essential things for your car cleaning kit.
It seems like a lot of people do not even have such a kit because they leave all the cleaning to a car wash. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that, but if you want to save some money and if you want to build a more unique relationship with your vehicle, you might try doing the maintenance by yourself. At least once in a while.
If you do have the desire to do this, you can use this article to figure out what are the most essential things you need for your cleaning kit.
1. Pressure washer
A lot of people would not suggest this kind of product as the most essential thing, but I disagree. Sure, this is can be an expensive investment, but once you buy it, you will never want to go back because it is so useful.
Even is not that expensive because these days you can probably find a good pressure washer for around $100 or maybe even less.
What exactly is a pressure washer? Well, think of it as a regular water hose that has the ability to spray that water at very high pressure. The power can be anywhere between 1000 psi and up to 5000 psi. With that kind of pressure of water, you will be able to clean any kind of stain on the color of your vehicle. You will be able to wash the tires, rims, windshields, and anything else. Basically, you can use this for the entire exterior.
Some of these devices also come with additional nozzles and equipment that allow you to mix the water with shampoo, making the cleaning process even faster and more efficient.
2. Washing mitt
Sometimes, to ensure that your car looks pristine, you will have to do a little bit of detailing by hand. You cannot just use the pressure washer for everything and expect that it will look as good as taking it to a car wash. No, you will have to put in some elbow grease for that.
That is why having a washing mitt is probably one of the most essential things you need to have in your kit. Keep in mind, I am specifically talking about a mitt for vehicles and not just any kind of rag or sponge you can find. These mitts are made with a special microfiber that will not leave any kind of marks or scratches on the paint of the vehicle. A regular sponge could damage the paint.
A microfiber mitt is also much more efficient and effective at wiping. After a nice good wipe, the car will look almost brand-new.
3. Find the right car shampoo
Another essential thing you will have to consider for your cleaning kit is the shampoo. You might be thinking that you could just buy any kind of soap and it will be fine, but that is not the case. If you are planning to provide a special kind of care for your vehicle, you will probably need to invest a bit more money for a proper soap.
This is very important because there are a lot of different brands out there that deliver different qualities of soap. Of course, you should be looking for something that is of higher quality that will come at a heftier price. But, with those shampoos that are of higher quality, there is no risk that something might happen to the paint or other exterior parts of the vehicle. Everything will look pristine and it will be cleaned thoroughly with the right shampoo.
However, if you are unable to figure out which the right shampoo product, likecardetailing recommend looking for a suggestion or advice from a company that offers detailing services. Usually, because these companies always use the best type of soap.
4. Microfiber towel
After applying the shampoo and after the pressure washing, it is time to wipe down all the leftover water and soap. For this, most people would grab a regular rag, but I would not recommend using that. A regular cloth can leave swirl marks from wiping and may even scratch the paint coating.
So, instead of using any kind of cloth, it is best to find a microfiber towel. These towels are so soft, there is no chance that they will leave any kind of scratches on the paint. There are also quite absorbent, so if there is any excess water on the vehicle, you can easily deal with it.
After a full wipe down, your car will be as dry as possible. After that, you can go to the next step and start polishing or waxing.
5. Car wax
After giving your entire vehicle a proper wash, it is time to give it the shine it deserves. That shine that every brand-new vehicle has. The only way to achieve that is after thoroughly cleaning the exterior of the vehicle and applying wax.
With this product, you will be able to add another level of protection for the paint and enhance it too. This is where a car gets its shine. Although, before you apply some wax, I suggest that you check out your shampoo and see whether it has wax always in it. If it does, I would not recommend adding another layer of it.
There are probably a few other things you could add to your car cleaning kit such as glass cleaner, a vacuum, a brush, masking tape, and a few other items, but I believe that these five things I mentioned are probably the most essential stuff.
