How to Wash a Car at Home Like a Pro—Inside and Out

An at-home car wash can help you save money and maintain the look of your vehicle.

Stephanie researches and reports on solutions for cleaning, organizing, and decorating challenges.

Duplicating a car wash at home can help you save money and time—and it doesn't have to be a Herculean task that you put off. again. Yes, it's a household chore, but once you learn how to wash a car, inside and out, you'll think twice about shelling out cash for someone else to clean it. Use this step-by-step guide to wash, dry, and vacuum your car for an all-around squeaky-clean vehicle—tires included.

Before You Get Started Washing Your Car

With a little planning and organization, your home car wash will be more successful. Keep these things in mind before washing your car.

• Find the shade. Park in a shaded spot before washing your car. Washing it in the sun will make it dry faster, possibly leaving soap scum and patchy spots on the car's surface. (At best, this leaves your car looking unwashed. At worst, it can damage your car's paint job.) If you don't have a shady spot for washing your car at home, wash it on an overcast, cloudy day for less sunlight.
• Park on the grass. When washing your car at home, the soapy water and dirt that's washed off the car will likely run into a storm drain, which can lower the community's water quality. If able, park your car on grass, gravel, or another surface that will absorb the water. (The downside is that non-eco-friendly products can damage your lawn, and you may end up with muddy areas that could get your tires and wheels dirty.)
• Prepare to get soaked. You'll likely get plenty of water and soap on you as you wash your car, especially if there's any wind. Put on swimwear or other moisture-wicking clothing. And be sure to wear flip-flops that can get wet.

Using dish soap and other household cleaners or chemicals on your car can damage the paint. It's best to purchase car-safe cleaning products.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

• Wet-dry vacuum with a blower feature
• Old, clean toothbrush
• Microfiber cloths
• Small bowl
• Water hose
• 2 2-gallon buckets
• 2 Car wash mitts or sponges
• Wheel brush (optional)
• Chamois or cotton cloth

Materials

• Garbage bag
• Auto-friendly interior cleaner (for leather, vinyl, and plastic)
• Laundry detergent
• Foam glass cleaner
• Car-specific soap
• Car wax (optional)
• Headlight renewal or restoration kit (optional)

Instructions

How to Wash a Car at Home

When done efficiently, washing your car at home takes less time and yields better results than using a retail car wash. Follow these steps to get the job done quickly and effectively.

Tidy the Interior

Remove items that don't belong in the car, and dispose of trash. Check the console, underneath seats, between armrests, in pockets, etc. to thoroughly clean the car's interior and collect long-lost treasures.

Vacuum Floor Mats and Blow the Interior

• Remove all floor mats from the car.
• Slap the mats together to remove loose dirt.
• Lay them on the driveway, then vacuum them using a wet-dry vacuum with a blower.
• Blow debris from the spaces between each seat and the center console with the vacuum hose connected to the exhaust port.
• Then, return the hose to its original spot.
  

Dust Cracks and Crevices

Rub a clean toothbrush along the dashboard and door panels to unearth debris and dust these small areas. Then, use the vacuum hose to suck up the waste.

To clean seat belts, dip a cotton cloth into a cup of warm water mixed with a few drops of laundry detergent and wipe the belts clean.

Vacuum the Floor and Upholstery

• With the front car seats moved all the way forward, vacuum the area under them from the backseat.
• While sitting in the back, vacuum the back floor.
• Move the front seats back and vacuum the floor in front. Be sure to vacuum both the passenger and driver's side of the car.
• Finally, recline the seats and vacuum as far into the crevices as possible to retrieve any lingering dirt.
  

Wipe Down the Dashboard

Using a microfiber cleaning cloth, wipe the dashboard. Move on to the middle console, gearshift, steering wheel, door handles, cupholders, and seats. Apply an auto-specific interior cleaner to the surfaces—skipping the seats (unless they're leather). Using a new cloth, wipe again.

Wash Windows

Apply a foam glass cleaner to each window like Invisible Glass, which doesn't drip like a liquid formula.

• Wipe both sides with a microfiber cloth. Work in an S-motion horizontally on the inside, and then use a vertical S-motion on the exterior. This way, you can see which side has streaks (if any) and needs another pass.
• Roll down the windows and swipe the top edges.
• Similarly, clean the interior of the front and back windows. And, don't forget the sunroof or moonroof, if applicable.
  

Replace Floor Mats

Replace all floor mats. Give them a shake before placing them in the car to remove any dust or dirt that may have landed on them from sitting on the driveway.

Hose Down the Exterior

Make sure that all car doors and windows are closed. Hose down the entire car, paying special attention to the tires (and the panels behind them), where debris and brake dust collect.

Lather and Scrub

• Fill two 2-gallon buckets with water. To one, add a few squirts of an auto-specific soap like Meguiar's. Leave the other with plain, clean water.
• With a car-wash mitt or a sponge, apply soapy water liberally over the exterior, rinsing the mitt periodically in the bucket of plain water to avoid scratching the finish with clinging debris.
• Working from top to bottom, wash the car exterior in this order, hosing off after each area to prevent the soap from drying: roof, hood, rear, upper portion of each side, and then lower portion of each side.
  

Clean Tires and Wheels

Using a second mitt or sponge, clean the tires (the rubber part) and wheels (the metal or coated alloy rims). You may need a wheel brush to reach smaller spots. You can also use an old toothbrush to clean between the wheel spokes.

Rinse and Dry Exterior

Using the hose, thoroughly rinse the car from top to bottom to be sure all soap is rinsed off, allowing the water to drip to the floor. Working in a circular motion immediately dry the car with a chamois or cotton cloth, from high to low. This way, as the water moves down, they won't rewet areas you just dried.

Try using a leaf blower to dry your car faster, working from top to bottom to let the water drip down.

Apply Wax (Optional)

While optional, applying car wax can help protect the car's exterior. One wax coat typically lasts about three months, so you don't have to do this step every time you wash your car. When necessary, here's how to do so:

• Once the car is fully dry, apply wax like To The Max Wax for a shiny, protective layer.
• Use a clean, soft cloth, and follow the label's directions.

Restore Headlights (Optional)

If your headlights have dulled or yellowed, you can revive them using a headlight renewal kit like 3M's Quick Headlight Renewal ($4, amazon.com) that sands and polishes the lens. Some restoration kits can cause damage to automotive paint, so follow the manufacturer's instructions, use them with care, or consult a professional.

How Often to Wash a Car

You should wash your car at home about every two weeks. Doing so will help preserve your car's paint job and prevent dirt or grime from settling in. Of course, if you drive through a particularly dirty area (mud, dusty construction site, etc.), wash your car right away to remove debris.

Also, clean up spills immediately to avoid letting the stain set. Regularly washing your car will prevent rain spots, dust, and other streaks from accumulating, which helps make each car washing session go faster.

How to Keep Your Car Clean Longer

Help your car stay clean between washes and waxes with these tips.

• Declutter and clean out garbage. Keep a small trash can or bag inside your car for easy collection and disposal of trash. Clean it out daily or at least once a week.
• Use cup holder liners. To avoid sticky cup holders from condensation and spills, purchase liners to insert in the cupholders. You can also insert silicone cupcake liners as a DIY option. Then, periodically remove and wipe clean.
• Keep wipes handy. For quick cleaning of spills, use wet wipes. Be sure they're bleach-free, so you don't affect the interior.
• Dust off shoes. Before entering your car, knock your shoes clean against the side of the car. Removing dirt, snow, and other environmental debris can help prevent buildup on your car floor or mats.
  

Removing Stains From a Car

Depending on where you live and your lifestyle, your car may acquire stubborn stains (inside and out) that require a little extra work. Here's how to remove stains from your car for a truly clean vehicle.

• Bug stains: Spray a car-friendly bug stain remover on spots or streaks. Allow the spray to sit for a few minutes. (Follow the label's directions for best results.)
• Tree sap: Wash sap off with warm, soapy water. If it's been a while and the spot has settled, Apply rubbing alcohol to the tree sap stain with a microfiber cloth, let it sit for 30-60 seconds, then wipe clean.
• Gum: For gum on the car's exterior, use compressed air (or an ice cube) to freeze it, then scrape it off with a plastic card or knife. For gum on the interior, soak a soft cloth in vinegar, rub it onto the gum, and allow it to soak for a few minutes. When the gum balls up, scrape it off.
• Coffee or food stains: Soak up any liquid by blotting with a clean, dry cloth. Then, mix one part white vinegar, two parts water, and a few drops of dish soap in a small container and apply to the stain. Scrub the stain then let the cleaning solution sit for about 20 or 30 minutes. Blot the stain with a clean, damp towel until the stain lifts.