For us, washing a vehicle is a fun activity… but we don’t want it to take too much time! This is why we use effective products that act quickly and give us the results that meet our expectations.

We are therefore showing you our tips and the best products to effectively wash your car and obtain long-lasting professional like results.

Many people start washing their vehicles with a bucket filled with water and dish soap and say "it does the job". If this sounds like you, we stop you now: dish soap is not good for your car!

In fact, dish soap is a degreasing agent, which will have a direct effect on the wax of the vehicle, and therefore on its shine. By degreasing the car, we remove the protection and the properties that the wax gives to the paint of the vehicle.

And why isn't using just one bucket of water to wash your car the optimal solution? Because the micro-rocks stuck to the car body stay on the wash mitt and end up creating small scratches. This is why we always recommend having two different buckets, one with soap and water, the other one filled only with water.

If you have a pressure washer at home, we recommend that you use it to make the washing process even faster.

Here are our key steps for optimal washing:

Use concentrated auto soap with wax. Here, we really like Autochem Wash & Shine soap (ACH-841-01) because of its formula adapted to our climatic conditions and its glossy silicone-free finish thanks to the carnauba wax. Add the equivalent of a capful of Wash & Shine to a large bucket of water. The other bucket should be filled with water only.

Whether with a garden hose or a pressure machine, completely rinse the car.

Then, this next step is not mandatory, but we always recommend applying an insect cleaner (ACH-812-032) to the front bumper, in order to remove all insect residue. This concentrated cleanser is ready to use, and its 30 second foaming action provides a quick cleanse. Wait a few seconds and rinse the front of the car.

We now go to the complete washing of the vehicle: put on your washing mitt (PRE-810008), soak it in the bucket with soap and wash the vehicle completely. The most important point here is to wash from top to bottom, panel by panel, because we want to avoid having small rocks sticking to our wash mitt when it comes to cleaning the hood, for example, and therefore scratch the front of the vehicle. For the same reasons, when you want to add soap and water to your mitt, rinse it in the bucket of water before re-dipping it in the bucket of soap.

After you have scrubbed the entire exterior of the vehicle with the mitt, we suggest you rinse everything with a garden hose or pressure machine for best results.

When the body is completely soap-free and you want a precision wash, the drying step isn't one to be overlooked. The chamois (BC-HT-SSDC-2430) absorbs excess water and provides a flawless result without leaving a trace.

The rims are then cleaned with Hi Performance (ACH-732-032) by spraying the product directly on the wheels. This product removes grease, dirt and brake dust from wheel covers and rims. Rub the rims with a rag to spread the product well and remove as much dirt as possible. Rinse the wheels immediately, do not let the product act too long.

What we mainly like about this product is that it contains a special blend of penetrating agents that dissolves dirt and contains a rust neutralizer that becomes active on contact with water when you rinse it off, preventing the formation of rust. It is therefore a dual action product; in addition to deep clean, it prevents rust!

Now, do not forget the windows! The sun rays sometimes allow us to notice how dirty our windows are. The ABX Professional triple strength window cleaner (ABX-513000) is one of our favorites and the # 1 glass cleaner used by professionals. It is also very effective against most of the toughest residues, such as dust, grease, insects, cigarette smoke and more. Just spray it on and wipe it off, it's that easy!

Last step: If you want shiny black tires, we recommend that you apply Meguiar’s Hot Shine Tire Coating (MEG-G12115). This product not only helps your tires shine, but also prevents damage caused by road wear. The highly water-resistant polymers combined with anti-ozone technology keep tires black longer while preventing cracking, browning and premature aging.

In conclusion, many products are sold in the car wash market. It's just a matter of finding the effective products that work best for us. In our opinion, this list of steps contains the most economical and durable products for washing your car quickly.

And you, what are your favorite exterior car wash products?

** For optimal and risk-free use, be sure to follow the directions on the products before using them.