Garage Guide No. 1: How to Wash a Truck at Home Without Scratching It

Most of the swirls you see in sunlight were not put there by the road. They were put there by washing. The good news is that a safe wash costs very little and takes only a little more time.

Start cool and in the shade

Hot paint dries soap and water before you can rinse it, and that leaves spots. Wash in the morning or evening, and keep the panels cool to the touch.

Rinse first, then use two buckets

A good rinse takes off the loose grit so it never gets dragged across the paint. Use one bucket for soapy water and one for rinsing your mitt, so dirt goes in the rinse bucket and not back onto the truck.

Work top down, with a clean mitt

Start with the roof and glass and finish with the lower panels, which are the dirtiest. If the mitt hits the ground, set it aside and grab a clean one.

Dry with fresh microfiber

Blot or gently drag a clean, dry microfiber towel across each panel. Skip old bath towels and chamois that have seen better days.

If your paint already has swirls or hazing, a hand wash will keep them from getting worse, but it will not remove them. That is what paint correction is for.