Washing Your Car a Fun Way to Save Big Bucks

01/30/09

Vacation weather may be upon us, but we still have chores to get done. Between work, carting our kids to swimming lessons and mowing the lawn, the list of tasks may seem endless. To make matters more difficult, the economy has gone slightly sour and we often feel the pinch in our wallets for things like electricity to run our air conditioners, and pumps for our swimming pools. In light of all this, there are ways to cut down on spending and one little thing that can help stretch your money is washing your own vehicle.

Car wash supplies are essential for a do it yourself operation. A source of clean running water is the first thing you will need to wash your car. Any backyard hose with a sprayer on it should work just fine. Make sure that you park as near the hose as possible so that you can be sure it will reach around your car.

You will need a bucket of some sort, preferably one that will hold two gallons or so. Soap is the next thing you will need, which is probably the most important part of your car wash. Make sure that you buy soap specially made for car washing rather than household detergents which could damage the finish on your vehicle.

A good sponge is necessary to get the soapy water onto your car from the bucket. Some people prefer to use natural sponges, while others like a synthetic sponge. Both are suitable, and can be purchased at most grocery stores. Often it has been recommended to use two separate sponges, if you would like one for the chassis and one for the wheels.

After you have rinsed the soap off of your car, it is a good idea to dry the outside of the windows, at least. Using a household glass cleaner with paper towels to wipe down the inside of the windshield and windows is ideal. A rubber protection spray can be good to apply to your tires after car washing. This will keep your tires from cracking and weakening in the heat.

Waxing your car can make it look even more shiny after washing. Car wax can be purchased along with other car wash supplies in most retail stores. Waxing can take a while, but the results are beautiful. Not only does wax protect your paint job, it enhances the colors and sheen to make it stand out. There are so many fun car wash supplies out there for a do it yourself job. Do it yourself car washing can be a surprisingly fun way to conserve cash!