Cleaning Your Car With A Pressure Washer

Posted on: 1 September 2016

Many people take a tremendous amount of pride in the appearance of their car. For some people, a vehicle can serve as a visible status symbol or the public display of their personal achievements. Keeping your vehicle clean helps you present its best face to the public when driving down the road. Having access to a pressure washer will allow you to give your car a thorough cleaning at home. 

Here are three tips to keep in mind as you rely on your pressure washer to clean your car in the future.

1. Clean the undercarriage.

When cleaning a vehicle at home, many drivers forget to pay attention to the undercarriage of the car. Dirt, mud, and debris can build up along the underside of any vehicle you drive on a regular basis. Although this dirt cannot easily be seen, it can cause the metal underneath your car to deteriorate, which will eventually lead to visible rust.

You should invest in an angled wand that can be attached to the hose of your pressure washer if you plan to wash your car frequently at home. This angled wand will allow you to direct a pressurized stream of water underneath your vehicle, where potentially harmful dirt and debris could be hiding.

2. Use the right detergent.

If your vehicle isn't coming clean with just the spray of pressurized water alone, you may need to use a specialized detergent to help break up dirt and grime from the surface of your car. It's important that you use the right detergent when cleaning your car with a pressure washer to ensure that both your vehicle and the pressure washer remain in good condition.

Check the manufacturer's recommendations to find a detergent designed to work with your pressure washer's unique chemical injection system, and ensure that any detergent you are applying to the surface of your car will not damage the clear coat protecting your vehicle's paint.

3. Don't stand too close.

One of the most important things to keep in mind when using a pressure washer to clean your vehicle is that standing too close to your car while applying pressurized water could be disastrous. The average consumer-grade pressure washer will produce a water flow with anywhere from 500 to 4,000 pounds per square inch.

This pressurized water flow can damage your vehicle's paint if you stand too closely. It's best to start out several feet away from your vehicle, and move closer only if stubborn dirt spots won't budge.

Understanding how to use a pressure washer to soak your vehicle will help you keep your car cleaner in the future. For more information, contact companies like Ben's Cleaner Sales.

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