Washing your car may seem like a simple thing, but there is more of a difference between doing it yourself and hiring a professional auto detailer than you might think. It's not just about how shiny the car ends up being or whether or not there are streaks on it. Washing your car can do damage to the paint job, and here's why.

Washing Your Car Yourself

When you do your car wash, you use soap, water, a mitt or sponge, and some elbow grease. You may be tempted to add a bunch of other stuff to get the job done faster, but these extra ingredients can damage the paint on your car. Using a harsh chemical or soap will strip the wax from your car and eliminate all of its protection. Soap can cause streaking as well, which is why most people choose to wash their cars on a cloudy day, so there's not as much heat making it evaporate off.

If you have a car with a lot of surface rust, you run the risk of making it worse by scrubbing too hard or using a sponge instead of a mitt. A car with surface rust needs to be sanded, metal prepped, and then painted.

Hiring a Professional Auto Detailer

Hiring an auto detailer will be much more time-consuming than just doing it yourself, but not necessarily more expensive. A quality detailer will strip the car of its existing wax, wash it thoroughly, then apply a fresh coat of wax to protect the paint on the car. When an auto detailer is washing your car, they use soft microfiber mitts to prevent any damage from occurring.

Another difference between washing your car and hiring an auto detailer is that the detailer will inspect your car to determine what other services need to be performed. They can clean inside and out, including the engine, which you should never do at home. They can also take care of things like rust removal, headlight restoration, buffing up the shine on your wheels, and more!

Consider getting your hands dirty if you are on a budget or don't feel like spending the money! Keep it simple and get the right equipment, and you should be fine. The best thing to remember is to get the right materials. You shouldn't use plain dish soap because dish soap is for, well, dishes. 

DIY Car Wash: What You Need

1. You need actual car washing soap.

2. Microfiber washcloth - don't use a regular sponge to wash your car.

3. Two buckets

4. Microfiber cloth to dry with

But if you are looking for a thorough wash job on the outside and on the interior of the car that will make your car look shiny and new, visit Overland Car Wash, the best professional auto detailer.