CAR owners have been warned of a common cleaning mistake that “hammers” your motor and could cause hundreds of pounds of damage over time.
As the seasons change many Brits will be getting ready for a spring clean.
Many drivers discover their motor needs a good clean after the winter period.
Food crumbs, wrappers and discarded items are often found in the nooks and crannies.
And the body work is often marred with spray and grime from lorries on the motorway network.
Many owners use a pressure hose to blast their cars free from grime. But now an expert has warned owners that a pressure hose can do more harm than good.
Experts at Simoniz said: “A pressure washer is an ideal way to bring a professional level of cleaning to your home, making light work of dirt that’s embedded on your car, but it can also make light work of
your paintwork if you’re not using it properly.
“A pressure washer uses an electric motor and water pump to push water through the hose at incredibly high pressures.
“Pressure washers designed for home use usually blast between 300-500 litres every minute.
“Each drop of water that hits the surface is like a tiny hammer chipping away at the dirt. It’s great for removing dirt from patios, barbecues, or cars.
“If we think of water as tiny hammers blasting away dirt, pressure washers cause damage by these “hammers” hitting too hard, so they not only damage the layer of dirt but also the paintwork of your car.”
And any damage cause is likely to leave owners with a chunky bill.
The experts said: “Damaged paintwork isn’t the end of the world, but it can be unsightly, costly to repair, and it can lead to rust if left for a long period.”
Professionals recommend an interval that may be surprising
Depending on where you live and your typical day, the suggested interval for cleaning a vehicle is every two weeks.
“Regularly washing your car removes everyday contaminants like tar, road debris, and bird droppings that can ruin your car’s paint job over time,” wrote Progressive.
“But there’s no one right answer to this question — it depends on factors like your lifestyle, the climate where you live, and how you store your vehicle when you’re not driving it.”
However, if applying a fresh coat of wax after every wash or if the vehicle is parked in a garage, cleaning may not have to be done as regularly.
“Waxing your car creates a barrier between your clear coat – the layer on top of the paint – and outside elements, so it won’t be able to absorb and affect the exterior of your car,” the site continued.
Source: Progressive Auto Insurance
However owners can still use pressure washers, but in the right way.
The experts added: “To protect the paintwork on your car, you should only use the jet of the pressure washer at a shallow angle, gradually increasing the pressure and maintaining a distance of at least 30cm.”
“It may also be worth using a low-pressure wash to rinse loose dirt from the paintwork before using a pressure washer.”
