care
care
We often find that enthusiasts love to care for their own vehicles. Below is a step by step guide on how best do just that.
While our ceramic coating packages come with FREE bi-annual maintenance, caring for your vehicle post Auto Haus could not be easier.
inspection
Inspecting the vehicle prior to beginning the wash is crucial. This will not only allow you to make mental note of what specific challenges you may face throughout the process, but will also help you chose which products will be needed.be sure to look at the wheels, door jambs, lower areas, and wheel wells.
prepare
Preparation is key, now that you have looked over your vehicle and know what to expect you can gather your supplies.
You will want the following:
1 to 2 buckets
foam cannon
brushes (not required)
several microfiber towels
ph neutral shampoo
wheel cleaner
mild all purpose cleaner
drying method
post wash sealant
RINSE
To begin you will want to thoroughly rinse the entire vehicle. This will do numerous things to aid in the process.
Rinse the paintwork, wheels, glass, jambs, and wheel wells. Work from top to bottom, front to back. This first step will knock any initial debris loose, cool the surfaces of the vehicle, and provide lubricity for further steps.
wheels
Fill one of your buckets with wheel designated brushes, an older microfiber towel, your washing soap, and a bit of water.
Spray an all purpose cleaner such as Koch Chemie’s GreenStar on your wheel wells, and tire. Follow that up with a wheel cleaner of your choice on the rim, caliper, and spokes. MagicWheelCLeaner from Koch Chemie is your best bet.
Going one wheel at a time, spray your solutions and agitate if needed. Allow about 45 seconds to a minute of dwell time before agitation with brushes or rinsing off. If no agitation, for best results spray all four wheels and allow 2-4 minutes dwell time before rinsing away product.
pre-treat
Using that same all purpose cleaner, liberally spray down the entire vehicle. Be sure to spray onto wet paint and to allow proper dwell time (about 2 minutes)
This will help loosen and lift anything that is stuck on the vehicle such as bugs, road debris, dirt, etc.
After dwell time is up, rinse the entire vehicle until all of the product is removed.
foam
Using a quality, wax free shampoo such as Koch Chemie’s GentalSnowFoam. Properly dilute your foam solution into your foam cannon, wash bucket, or both.
In a new bucket, add two microfiber towels, shampoo, and water. Begin by using your foam cannon to cover the vehicle in its entirety. Then fold one of your towels into fourths. This will create a wash-mitt with 8 sides, just about one for each panel. Use these mitts to wipe the vehicle down (hand wash), again following the top to bottom, left to right pattern. Save that second microfiber for dirtier areas such as bumpers, rockers, and the underside of panels. When done, thoroughly rinse away all of the foam.
DRYING
Now it’s time to dry off. Grab either your favorite drying towel or hand held blower and begin removing the water from the vehicle. Using the towel, lay it completely open on the vehicles surface and drag it from front to back. top to bottom. When using a blower, be sure to get in the cracks and seams.
*optional*
For those looking to provide the ultimate protection and rejuvenation of their ceramic coatings. Use Koch Chemies SO.O3 HydroFoamSealant. Repeat the foam cannon prep, foaming, dwell, and rinse steps without hand washing.
FINALS
*OPTIONAL*
Now that you have successfully completed a care wash on your vehicle and your coating is maintained, these are some further steps you can take to shone just that extra bit more.
QuickFinish from Koch Chemie can be used on all surfaces. With two clean microfiber towels, apply in small sections and buff off. Use this to remove any leftover residue post wash, to clean glass, and doorjambs. This can also be used as a topper for the painted surfaces, adding more shine and depth. A quality tire dressing can be used to add a subtle touch, completing the look.
