Cleaning

None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.

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Use the two-bucket method with grit guards: one bucket for soapy water and one for rinsing the mitt.
This allows grit and dirt to sink to the bottom, keeping the wash mitt cleaner.
2 people, independently
If you live in a hot climate, switch from pure rubber to hybrid silicon/rubber wiper blades.
Pure rubber wears out too quickly in heat.
- Based on one person's experience in Phoenix, Arizona.
one person who lived it
Apply a ceramic coating like Opti Coat or Cquartz to repel water, dirt, and scratches.
The coating hardens and lasts a year or two.
one person who lived it
Spray the foaming mop head away from the car for one second before use.
To avoid splattering dirty water onto the vehicle.
- This may be illegal in some states or countries because contaminated water often flows directly into groundwater.
one person who lived it
Apply Lucas Slick Mist Speed Wax to your car for a quick shine.
It makes the car look amazing in minutes.
one person who lived it

Do not raise the hood while the wiper arms are lifted.
Doing so can scratch both the hood and the windshield.
one person who lived it
Use clear silicone spray to lubricate window seals and sunroof tracks.
It is a superior choice that won't stain and isn't a foreign matter that can scratch or wear things out. It also helps if sunroof seals/tracks are noisy or slow.
one person who lived it
Wash cars with microfiber or wool mitts rather than sponges or dish soap.
Sponges can trap dirt that scratches paint, and dish soap strips wax.
one person who lived it
Dry cars with a chamois instead of towels.
Towels can scratch the paint.
one person who lived it

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Blast self-service car wash foaming mop heads with high-pressure water before use.
To remove small rocks trapped in the brush.
one person who lived it
Scrub wheels last at manual car washes.
Scrubbing wheels first transfers brake dust and road residue to the brush, which can scratch the paint.
one person who lived it
Use pH-balanced car soap instead of dish soap when washing your car.
Dish soap is not made for cars.
one person who lived it
Switch from high-pressure soap to rinse mode about 30 seconds before finishing.
It takes that long for remaining soap to clear from the system.
one person who lived it
Apply a clear coat or UV protective sealant after cleaning headlights to prevent rapid re-yellowing.
UV light from the sun alters the plastic, causing cloudiness to return in weeks or months without protection.
3 people, independently
Replace only the rubber inserts of wiper blades rather than the entire assembly to save money.
The holder can last longer than the rubber inserts.
- Refill blades may be hard to find; some stores do not stock them.
one person who lived it
After rinsing and wringing a chamois cloth, put it back in its container to keep it moist.
This keeps them from getting hard.
one person who lived it
Apply Rain-X or similar oil-based water repellents to the outside windshield using a microfiber rag to make water bead up and glide off at speed.
Oil repels water; coating the windshield makes water bead up and glide off once moving fast enough, reducing the need for manual wiping or wiper use.
- Using anything other than a microfiber rag can cause glare.
- Some users report Rain-X leaves a white haze that is awful at night.
one person who lived it
Wipe down windshield wipers with a paper towel and Windex every few months.
It helps maintain performance.
one person who lived it
Replace half of the water in your cleaning solution with isopropyl alcohol to increase drying speed.
It increases the drying speed.
one person who lived it
clean the interior haze or film from car windows before applying anti-fog treatment to ensure it works
foggy windows cause wrecks
one person who lived it
Focus on safety over saving small amounts of money by buying good wipers and replacing worn blades promptly, especially for high-speed driving in rain.
Wipers are a critical safety issue for visibility when traveling at speeds like 70 MPH in rain.
one person who lived it
Wash from top to bottom and use separate towels for each lower quarter and the wheels.
This minimizes cross-contamination.
one person who lived it
Consider using Optimum No Rinse (ONR) with one bucket filled halfway.
One user described it as a game changer compared to traditional methods.
one person who lived it
Scrub windshield wiper blades when washing your car.
They accumulate gunk that can smudge the windshield.
one person who lived it
Avoid using Armor All on motorcycle seats or car dashboards; use a damp rag instead.
Armor All creates slippery surfaces.
one person who lived it
Run new silicone wiper blades dry across the windshield for a couple of minutes after installation to apply the coating.
This applies the coating.
one person who lived it
Avoid using windshield wipers on a dry, dirty windshield to prevent micro-scratches from hard contaminants like small rocks.
Dry friction with debris scratches the glass.
2 people, independently
Wipe wiper blades with a paper towel after washing the car to remove black crud and improve performance.
Removing the black crud makes them work way better.
one person who lived it
Use generic brand melamine sponges to clean plastic surfaces inside cars.
they effortlessly remove stains that towels and cleaners cannot
- do not use on paint or upholstery
one person who lived it
Dry the car quickly with terry weave garage towels, avoiding circular motions.
Circular drying motions can show on the finish.
one person who lived it
Consider using Aquapel water repellent treatment instead of RainX for longer-lasting protection, lasting months rather than weeks.
Aquapel lasts longer; one user applied it in April and was still effective months later.
one person who lived it
Use the alcohol wipes included with new wipers to remove silicone release agent before installation.
This ensures a fresh install by removing the release agent.
one person who lived it
Avoid washing the undercarriage of your car.
Washing the undercarriage accelerates rust formation.
one person who lived it