Car wash in front of the house door (Focus Turnier 1)

In many cities and districts it is no longer permitted to wash cars on the street. There are good reasons for this: dirty water carries oil residues and other environmentally harmful substances into the sewer. The car is washed clean in an automatic car wash. The amount of water used is usually significant, i.e. the wash is gentle. Oil separators and water preparation equipment are environmentally friendly. Modern car wash systems also have individual cleaning and care programs.

Drying brakes while driving after washing

After each car wash, perform a short brake test while driving. This will evaporate any fluid that got onto the brake discs or into the brake drums during the wash. In the same way, you should dry the brakes after a long drive in rainy weather or after driving on winter streets sprinkled with salt before you park your car for a few days. It is quite sufficient if you lightly press the brake pedal for the last hundred meters of the journey. With this "exercise", you will avoid the deposition of a wet, dirty "blanket" on the brake discs and in the brake drums, which in serious cases will worsen the response time of the brakes.

After automatic washing - do not forget about additional cleaning

After washing, you should additionally clean your car. Often, car wash ladies treat wheel arches, fender liners and door channels carelessly. Sometimes additional manual work with a sponge and rag is also required in door frames and body folds. In winter, when salt-containing water sticks to the varnish, to the inner sides of the fenders and the bottom, you should go to the car wash more often. Your Focus will become dirty again in a short time, but rust will not have a chance to nest in critical places.

An alternative offer is a place at a car wash or a self-service car wash

If you prefer to wash your car yourself, ask the petrol station attendant about a place to wash it. Self-service car washes are also a good alternative: car washes with good service offer all the auxiliary means to make your work easier, from a high-pressure washer to a vacuum cleaner. But before you start working in self-service places, check the condition of the washing brushes. Maybe your predecessor just washed the underbody or wheel arches after driving on a dirty road and got the brushes dirty with large dirt - the result would be unpleasant scratches on the varnish. In addition, never wash your car in the scorching sun. This is harmful to the varnish: small drops of water act on the varnish like lenses - dust and lime particles can burn the surface of the varnish.

Do-it-yourself washing

A large amount of water is not a mistake, as washing with a small amount of water spoils the varnish. Small grains of dust and sand settle in the sponge and leave microscopic scratches on the surface, similar to a web.



Garden hose, preferably with a dosing sprayer. If there is no running water, you should consider at least two buckets of water for the main wash.

A brush with a hose that washes away dirt with running water.

Washing glove or sponge. Keep the water spray as close to the surface being washed as possible, then dirt particles will be washed off reliably. After two or three washing movements, dip the washing glove or sponge into a bucket filled with water and wring it out. In this case, dirt will not linger in them.

The long-handled wash brush is particularly suitable for washing rims and wheel arches.

Large pore viscose sponge is ideal for large surfaces.

Sponge for removing insect residue.

Window chamois - for polishing glass and drying the varnish surface.

A bucket of water is practical for washing with shampoo or for rinsing a sponge, washing glove or window chamois.

Care products for external car wash

Car shampoo. Cleans varnish and removes oily residue.

Wash wax. Has qualities similar to car shampoo, but after drying it protects the varnish from environmental influences and increases the period until the next polishing.

Rim cleaner. Dissolves caked brake dust and road grime.

Synthetic care products. Along with care substances, they also contain coloring materials. They refresh faded synthetic bumpers. They are applied and distributed with a clean sponge. After a short time, the excess liquid is wiped off with a damp cloth.

Be careful with high pressure washing

The water temperature is maximum 60°. Very hot water destroys the rubber and anti-corrosion coating of the bottom.



Set the pressure regulator to a maximum of 30 bar. The distance from the car should be between 60 and 80 cm. If the distance is shorter and the pressure is too high, there is a risk of damaging the paintwork of your Focus. After washing the engine under high pressure, the water jet often paralyzes the engine electronics or gets inside the engine through the air filter - the consequence would be serious damage.

Never clean tires with round sprayers. Dangerous for the sidewalls of the tires.

Even with a relatively large distance to the jet and a short period of action, defects may appear that are not noticeable at first glance.

External wash

Close all doors and windows. Wet seat cushions are unpleasant.

First, clean the wheel wells, rims and door channels. The advantage: you can simply wash away the remaining dirt.

Wash the underside of the car with a steam cleaner or a hose with a spray nozzle. In winter, you should clean the underside of your Focus every time you wash your car. Raise your car once or twice a year on a lift platform (at a Ford workshop or gas station) and visually inspect the condition of the anti-corrosion coating.



The front rims get dirtier; every time you brake, the dust from the brake pads wears down completely. Therefore, clean them more often with a rim cleaner. Be sure to use environmentally friendly products and follow the instructions for use. After cleaning, rinse with a strong stream of water just in case.

Light metal rims should be cleaned regularly with water/detergents. Be careful with cleaning agents: aluminum rims are very sensitive to caustic cleaning agents.



To clean the rims, you must squeeze out the wheel caps. This job is most thoroughly done with a cold cleaner, but car shampoo is also sufficient.

You can clean the corners and folds of the filigree rims most effectively with a toothbrush. To enjoy the results longer, spray the surfaces with clear wax after cleaning. Brake pad dust and dirt will settle on the wax layer, not the varnish. Be careful not to wet the brake discs or pads with wax.

Wet road dirt thoroughly

Rinse the car with a hose at moderate pressure. At a self-service car wash with high-pressure cleaning equipment, select the "Rinse" program.

When hand washing, wash entire surfaces and start working from the roof down.



Apply the cleaning foam using gentle circular motions. Let the foam work for a while. ® Rinse off the liquid dirt with water from a hose. At a self-service car wash: select the Rinse program.



Always apply plenty of water to the varnish with a sponge. When mixing, pay attention to the instructions for using the cleaning liquid mixture; most often, the less money, the better.



Car washing with a brush attachment is especially suitable. Special detergent additives reliably dissolve difficult-to-remove dirt. You will keep the "cleanliness" of the washing brushes in specially equipped washing centers.



Use a special chamois to dry the varnish. With it, you can work quickly and efficiently. Soft chamois, when used carefully, does not leave marks on the varnish.



The final step is to wash the wheels with a washing brush and hose.

After washing the car, wipe it with a chamois immediately. Air-dried water after washing leaves a grey limescale deposit on the varnish and corrodes it.

Before use, dip the dry suede into clean water. Then wring it out, lay it out on the varnished surface and, spreading it out wide, pull it towards you.

Always rinse the suede before wringing. Treat good suede with care, as dirt residue will quickly ruin it. Therefore, clean hard-to-reach corners (for example, in the wheel well) with a cotton cloth or old dry suede.

No questions - transparent glass is needed

Finally, it's time for the outside of the window panes. Proceed in the same way as when cleaning the inside of the glass. Check the windshield for damage from stone impacts, scratches, and cracks.

Wipe the windshield wiper pads with a sponge or dry chamois. Check the rubber tabs for damage and elasticity - replace hardened rubber.

After washing, check the varnish, headlight glass and front bumper for stubborn dirt: insect residue, bird droppings, pollen and resin splashes have an aggressive effect and must be removed immediately with a special cleaning agent.

Tar removers should not be applied to fresh or recently touched up varnish - the solvents they contain may corrode the varnish surface.

Good lighting only with clean headlights

You should wash your headlights more often than the body of your Focus. Dirt particles on the protective glass deflect and absorb light rays. Consequences: uncontrolled diffused light, reduced visibility, strong glare, especially in fog. After just half an hour of driving on a wet road, your FOCUS headlights are more than 60% dirty. Accordingly, illumination becomes poor - a potential danger for you and other road users,





(The original article is posted at: FORDBOOK.ru)