When it comes to achieving that vehicle showroom shine that we all long for, a pressure washer proves to be a trusty companion. It dissolves stubborn dust and grime with ease and gives you a speedy yet effective rinse.
In this guide, you’ll learn all about pressure washing as a means of vehicle cleaning, with some handy pro tips and tricks that will leave your truck, motorcycle, or car spotless.
And if your pressure washer needs any replacement parts or repair kits, check out our premium-quality picks at MTM Hydro Parts powered by Veloci!
How to Clean Your Vehicle Using a Pressure Washer
Here are the steps you should follow to pressure wash your vehicle efficiently:
1. Clean the Top Layer of Loose Dirt and Grime
Cleaning vehicles with power washers is a multi-step process. You can’t just aim your electric pressure washer at all parts of the car and expect it to be shiny.
You should start with the top layer of loose debris and grime using only water.
To clean it, you’ll need high-quality 25-degree and 40-degree nozzles, which you can find in various nozzle packs at our online store.
First, use the 25-degree nozzle at 2,000 PSI (pounds per square inch) for the wheels and wells. These areas are the most likely to accumulate stubborn grime, so be patient while cleaning them.
We don’t recommend you go at a higher pressure than that because it might damage your car’s paint if it’s old, and it might actually break your windows if it’s too powerful.
Afterward, install the 40-degree nozzle and start cleaning the entire exterior of the vehicle, starting from the roof and going down to slide all the dust to the ground.
2. Use Cleaning Detergent and Foam Cannon
In this step, you’ll introduce cleaning detergent and foam cannon into the equation. If you don’t own one, you can check out our foam cannon collection at MTM Hydro Parts powered by Veloci.
Fill the soap tank with a car cleaner detergent, then aim the nozzle toward the roof of the car and start spraying it with foam from top to bottom. The soap will break down any oils or grime stuck to the wheels and paint job.
Make sure to apply a thick layer of foam for better results and to protect your car from scratching during rinsing. Once you’re done, grab a bucket, fill it with car cleaning soap and water, and follow along to the next step.
3. Scrub Your Car
Now, it’s time to get your hands dirty. You’ll need a bucket of car wash soap and water and a clean car-washing mitt. Make sure the mitt isn’t too harsh to avoid scratching your car paint.
Dip the mitt into the bucket and start scrubbing the car from the roof towards the bottom. Focus on the wheels and the wells because they’re often the dirtiest.
4. Rinse the Soap
You’ll need your car pressure washer and a 40-degree nozzle to rinse off the suds. Starting at the roof, you should aim your garden hose and start washing away all the foam and dirt.
Since soap tends to accumulate in corners and narrow areas, you should pay close attention to door and window seals.
We also recommend you stand at least one meter away from your car to avoid inflicting any damage on its body because of the powerful pressure washer.
5. Wipe the Car With a Microfiber Detailing Towel
Before you roam the streets with your car, there’s an extra step you can do to leave it all clean and shiny. If you have a microfiber detailing towel, grab it and wipe the entire car dry with it. Alternatively, you can use a leaf blower if you don’t have a towel. Better yet, you can get a high-quality one from our online store at MTM Hydro Parts powered by Veloci.
The good news is these steps are suitable for both gas pressure washers and electric pressure washers.
Extra Vehicle Cleaning Tips and Tricks!
To make your vehicle cleaning session easier and more effective, here are some extra tips you can try out:
- Use a wide spray pattern nozzle: If you use a narrow nozzle, you’ll have an extremely powerful jet of water, which might harm your car paint or weaken your windows. Ideally, you should always use a wide nozzle when cleaning your car.
- Use a long hose: short hoses are inconvenient because you’ll have to keep moving around to aim it at the right places, which is tiring. If you use a long hose, you’ll eliminate this issue, as it’ll reach the entire exterior of the car with ease.
- Stay away from the engine: You should always avoid getting water or soap near your car engine because it can lead to it malfunctioning.
- Wash the car on a hard surface: If you clean your car on the grass, you’ll leave muddy spots behind, and the soap might harm any plants you have around. For best results, you should wash it on concrete or asphalt.
Conclusion
If you plan on giving your vehicle its regular wash, we recommend you use a power washer. If used right, it’ll make your life easier and finish the job faster.
You should first clean the car’s exterior with the pressure washer, then use a foam cannon to cover it with detergent. Then, scrub the car to get all the stubborn grime out, and rinse the soap using your washer. Finally, dry the car with a microfiber cloth or a leaf blower so that it’s ready to tackle the roads again!
If you want to learn more about pressure washers and their different uses, check out our website today!