Have you ever seen a vehicle where the finish on the car is dull or looks like the paint has been peeling back? A vehicle gets to this point through the owners 

neglect of washing and waxing the car on a regular basis. Keeping your vehicle clean and shiny not only makes you look good, it protects your car and helps maintains the value of the vehicle. As with everything in the automotive industry, there’s a right way and wrong way to keeping your car clean.

Your vehicle has several layers of paint protecting the body of the vehicle. The final coat of paint is a “Clear-coat” which makes the car shine and protects the paints from the elements. Unfortunately, the Clear-coat finish is only as thick as a piece of paper and can become damaged from the effects of sunlight, UV radiation, acid rain, salt, dirt and air pollution. Doing nothing to keep your car clean will ruin the Clear-coat and expose the unprotected paint to the harsh 

elements of the environment.

More than one-third of car owners use damaging non-automotive products when washing their cars-products that could contain harmful detergents, abrasives and additives. And almost half of motorists don't ever wax their vehicles at all. "Waxing at least twice a year is recommended for maximum protection, yet surveys show that 48 percent of motorists don't wax their vehicles at all," says Jeffrey Webb, director of retail marketing at Turtle Wax, Inc.

Motorists should avoid dish detergent, which contains harsh chemicals that, intended to cut through grease, will strip away the wax finish on your car. Some are hard to rinse off and leave streaks. For best results, a formulated automotive wash is recommended, one that gently lifts the dirt and grime while protecting the finish.

Washing an automobile on a regular basis protects it from the natural elements that harm the finish. Here are some recommended dos and don'ts when it comes to a do-it-yourself car wash:

►Don't wash cars in direct sunlight. Do wash cars in shade or in cooler temperatures in the early morning or late afternoon.

►Don't use dish detergent. Do use a formulated car wash.
 

►Don't scrub the car all at once. Do complete one section at a time, rinsing repeatedly to prevent the soap from drying on the paint.

►Don't neglect waxing the vehicle. Do prep the car for waxing using cleaner/polish to remove contaminants