The most common mistake when washing the car and how to avoid it.

Washing a car seems like a simple task: hose, water, sponge and you’re done. However, what many consider an act of everyday care is actually one of the leading causes of paint damage and electrical failures. Without realizing it, thousands of people are shortening the life of their vehicle every time they wash it badly.

Dull paint, fine scratches, damaged sensors, and intermittent electronic failures often have a common origin: improper washing. Below, I explain the most frequent mistakes and why they can be very expensive.

Mistake 1: Using any type of soap

One of the most common mistakes is washing the car with dish detergent, laundry soap, or other household products. These products are designed to remove grease aggressively, not to care for paintwork.

When using them:

• Remove protective wax
• Dry out the varnish
• Leave paint unprotected

Over time, the color fades, the surface becomes rough, and micro-scratches appear that many attribute to the sun, when in fact they are the result of the wrong soap.

Mistake 2: Washing the car in the sun

Washing the vehicle when it is hot or directly in the sun is a perfect recipe for damaging the paintwork. Soap and water dry too quickly, leaving stains that are difficult to remove.

In addition, heat:

• Intensifies the action of chemicals
• Accelerates wear of the protective layer
• Fixes stains on varnish

Many permanent brands start with a “quick wash” in the sun.

Mistake 3: Using the same sponge for everything

This is one of the quietest damages. Using the same sponge for the body, wheels, and rims means dragging sand and dirt all over the paint.

Each pass acts as an invisible sandpaper:

• Generates micro-scratches
• Dulls the paint over time
• Makes the car look old before its time

It’s not that the paint is bad, it’s that it’s been worn out little by little.

Mistake 4: Rushing pressurized water into the engine and sensors

Many people open the hood and wash the engine as if it were the floor of the house. This mistake can be very costly.

Although some components are protected, they are not designed to receive pressurized water on a constant basis. Moisture in connectors and sensors causes:

• Terminal oxidation
• Intermittent failures
• Problems that are difficult to diagnose

For this reason, many cars begin to fail days after they have been washed.

Mistake 5: Letting the car dry on its own

Water contains minerals that, when evaporated, stick to paint and glass. This creates stains that not only look bad, but can become permanent.

In addition, the water accumulated in:

• Mirrors
• Moldings
• Sensors

It can slowly leak into sensitive areas.

Mistake 6: Cleaning sensors because they “look dirty”

Some sensors, such as cameras and assistance systems, should not be rubbed or cleaned with rough rags or harsh products. Improper cleaning can generate:

• Fake Alerts
• Failures in security systems
• Electronic aids malfunction

What is the right way to wash a car?

A good wash always starts:

• With specific products for cars
• In the shade and with the vehicle cold
• Rinsing first to remove loose dirt

Separate tools should be used for bodywork and wheels, avoid pressurized water in electronic areas and dry with suitable towels, without aggressive rubbing.

On the engine, only light and localized cleaning is recommended, never a deep wash with direct water.

Tips and recommendations

• Always use good quality automotive shampoo
• Wash the car in the shade and when it’s cold
• Use different sponges or gloves for wheels and bodywork
• Avoids pressurized water in the engine and sensors
• Dry the vehicle with microfiber towels
• Don’t rub sensors or cameras
• Wash fewer times, but correctly

Washing your car badly not only ruins the paint, it can also lead to costly electrical failures. Many of these problems don’t show up right away, but they add up with each wrong wash. Taking care of the way you wash your vehicle is one of the best investments to keep it in good condition for longer.

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