ChrisFix shares his top 10 common mistakes people make when cleaning their cars, offering practical advice to help car owners maintain their vehicle’s finish and avoid unnecessary damage. He emphasizes avoiding automatic car washes, especially for new or high-end vehicles, due to the risk of scratches caused by dirt trapped in brushes or the aggressive pressure of water jets. Cleaning a car in direct sunlight or heat is discouraged because it causes water to evaporate quickly, leaving water spots and potentially damaging chemicals from cleaners. Using kitchen soaps like Dawn or degreasers is a mistake, as they strip off wax and can harm the paint’s clearcoat; instead, automotive soaps that are pH-balanced should be used. ChrisFix stresses the importance of lubrication during cleaning to prevent scratches, especially when removing acidic bird droppings. For black cars, extra caution is necessary as scratches show more easily, and power washers should be used carefully or avoided if pressure is too high.
He warns against using abrasive materials like paper towels, old T-shirts, sponges, or bath towels on car paint, recommending soft microfiber towels instead. Cleaning should always start from the top of the car and move downward to avoid transferring dirt and grime from the bottom to the top, with a separate towel used for the rims due to their acidic and gritty brake dust. Scrubbing should be done in a single direction to prevent swirling scratches. ChrisFix also highlights the two-bucket method—one for soapy water and one for rinsing—to keep dirt particles from scratching the paint.
After washing, drying should be done with a microfiber towel in one direction from top to bottom, using gentle pressure and fresh towel sections to avoid damage. Dropping towels on the ground renders them unusable because debris picked up can scratch the paint. Lastly, he advises against putting slippery products like Armor-All on steering wheels, pedals, or gear shifters to prevent dangerous driving conditions. Instead, such protectants should be applied to a towel first and then to the leather or vinyl. The video concludes with an encouragement to share other common car cleaning mistakes and offers links to additional videos and social media.
### Highlights
– 🚗 Avoid automatic car washes to prevent scratches and paint damage.
– ☀️ Never clean your car in direct sunlight or when the surface is hot.
– 🧴 Use automotive soap, not kitchen soap or degreasers, to protect your wax and clearcoat.
– 💧 Always use lubrication when cleaning, especially to safely remove bird droppings.
– 🧽 Use only soft microfiber towels—not paper towels, old T-shirts, or sponges—on your paint.
– 🪣 Employ the two-bucket washing method to avoid reapplying dirt to your vehicle.
– ⚠️ Never apply slippery products on steering wheels, pedals, or gear shifters for safety reasons.
### Key Insights
– 🚿 **Automatic Car Washes Often Cause Micro-Scratches:** Despite claims of soft brushes or touchless technology, automatic car washes commonly trap dirt in cleaning materials or use high-pressure water jets that can push abrasive particles against the paint surface. This leads to swirl marks and scratches that degrade the car’s finish over time, especially damaging to newer or high-value vehicles. Hand washing with proper tools is always safer for maintaining paint integrity.
– 🌡️ **Cleaning in Sunlight Accelerates Water Evaporation and Chemical Damage:** When a car’s surface is hot, water and cleaning chemicals evaporate too quickly, leaving unsightly water spots and reducing the effectiveness of cleaning agents. Additionally, many automotive cleaners are formulated to work on cool surfaces, so using them in the sun risks chemical reactions that can harm paint and clearcoats. Washing in shaded or cooler conditions prevents these issues and enhances the final shine.
– 🧼 **Choosing the Right Soap is Crucial for Paint Protection:** Kitchen soaps and degreasers are harsh and strip away protective wax coatings, exposing the paint to environmental damage. Automotive soaps are pH-balanced and designed to clean effectively without removing wax, plus they create lubricating suds that reduce friction between towels and paint. This choice significantly impacts the longevity of a car’s finish and the ease of washing.
– 🧴 **Lubrication Prevents Paint Marring During Cleaning:** Using spray wax or ensuring the car surface is fully wet before wiping prevents abrasive particles from scratching paint. This is especially important for removing bird droppings, which contain acid that can rapidly damage paint and clearcoats if wiped off dry or without lubrication. Proper lubrication creates a protective barrier, allowing contaminants to be safely lifted away.
– 🧽 **Soft Microfiber Towels Are Essential for Scratch-Free Cleaning and Drying:** Rough materials like paper towels, sponges, old T-shirts, or bath towels contain fibers or abrasives that can cause micro-scratches and swirl marks on paint surfaces. Microfiber towels have a soft, dense weave that traps dirt and absorbs water without damaging the finish. Using these towels exclusively and switching to clean sections during drying minimizes the risk of paint damage.
– 🪣 **Two-Bucket Method Significantly Reduces Paint Scratches:** By separating the soapy water bucket from the rinse bucket, dirt and grit are rinsed out of towels before they enter the soap bucket. This prevents contaminating the clean water and reduces the chance of rubbing dirt back onto the paint. This simple technique is highly effective for maintaining a clean wash environment and protecting delicate finishes.
– ⚠️ **Avoiding Slippery Products on Control Surfaces Enhances Safety:** Applying leather or vinyl protectants like Armor-All directly on steering wheels, brake pedals, or gear shifters can create slippery spots that undermine grip and control, posing a serious safety risk. Instead, protectants should be applied to a towel first to avoid excess buildup. This insight reminds car owners that cosmetic care should never compromise driving safety.
These insights collectively underscore the importance of careful technique, appropriate materials, and safety awareness in car cleaning to preserve vehicle aesthetics and functionality. ChrisFix’s detailed explanations and practical tips make this video an invaluable resource for both novice and experienced car enthusiasts.
