Car wash detailing: how to wash and dry the car

Washing frequency

We recommend washing once every 10 days or so.

Water information

It may seem obvious, but in the washing process one of the most important components is water. Specifically, its mineral composition. You can test this by pouring some water on a bonnet and checking to see if there are any noticeable traces of limescale on the surface once it has dried. If this is the case, we recommend an osmosis system, which will prevent these problems.

Car wash in car detailing

Pre-washing is a stronger cleaning action to remove stubborn impurities. However, many prewash products are too aggressive and can remove the protective coatings of applied sealants or waxes. For this reason, we recommend using SP1 Prewash, which is specifically designed not to affect coatings and to guarantee perfect results even on the most difficult surfaces (chrome, gaskets, etc.), in both spray and foam form.

How to prewash

Always read the instructions for use of the product before use and the recommendations after use. Do not mix different cleaning products, we recommend the use of Innovacar products to be sure of the result. Proceed as follows:

1. Prepare the Innovacar prewash solution.
2. Spray the solution (with a nebulizer or a pre-pressure pump) from the circles upwards.
3. Leave the product to act.
4. For unprotected cars with heavy residues, significant layers of mud and/or other types of dirt, we recommend a thorough rinsing in touchless mode using a high-pressure cleaner with pressure above 160 bar. If the car is well protected and there is only a small amount of dirt, it can be cleaned by mechanical removal (glove/sponge). If necessary, repeat steps 2 and 3.
5. Empty, rinse and fill buckets with fresh water.
6. Proceed to wash and dry the vehicle.

• Do not wash under direct light or on hot surfaces (in this case, cool them with water beforehand).
• If working under direct light, start with the areas not directly exposed and prevent the surface from drying out.
• Start with the sections where the dirt is most stubborn so that the pre-wash contact time is longer.
• Always follow the instructions for use in the instruction booklet.

The car wash phase in car detailing: the main methods

Washing the car in the best possible way is an important and fundamental aspect of car detailing and treatment. Here are specific guides for the different methods and treatments to get the best out of this phase.

Traditional two-bucket washing in car detailing

The two-bucket method is one of the safest ways to care for your car, even in combination with other methods such as foam lance or rinseless washing.

1. Pre-wash and then prepare two buckets. The first will be used for the Innovacar shampoo (S1 Wash&Coat or S2 Foamy), the second for rinsing the glove and/or foam. For washing, we recommend using the glove for the upper part of the vehicle and the sponge for the lower part.
2. Prepare the solution with water and shampoo in the amounts indicated in the package insert, mix.
3. Soak the glove/sponge in the bucket with shampoo.
4. Starting at the top of the car and applying light pressure, run the glove/sponge over the vehicle.
5. If necessary, clean the glove/sponge in the rinsing bucket by rubbing it on a grid to remove as much impurities as possible.
6. Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5 until the entire vehicle has been washed.
7. Thoroughly rinse the vehicle from top to bottom, preferably with a high-pressure cleaner at least 160 bar.
8. Proceed to the next steps.

• Rinse the glove/sponge often, removing as much dirt as possible.
• Be careful not to fish the bottom of the bucket with the sponge to avoid collecting residues that could damage the surface. For this reason we recommend the use of our buckets with a grid at the bottom Det Bowls.
• Always follow the instructions for use in the instruction booklet.

Washing with foam lance in car detailing

Use of the foam lance can further reduce the risk to the paint, allow better diffusion of the cleaner, and delay drying. It is good to keep in mind that the use of this approach, when not flanked by others, only allows dirt to be removed from a regularly washed car. An LS3 Foam Lance or similar is required to proceed with this technique.

How to perform the wash using a foam lance.

1. Add foam shampoo (S2 Foamy) or Innovacar prewash (SP1 Prewash) in the indicated quantities to the LS3 foam lance tank and fill with water.
2. Shake the solution to mix it.
3. Adjust the lance opening to the preferred ratio according to the chosen dilution.
4. Cover the vehicle with foam starting from the bottom.
5. Leave the product to act.
6. Proceed with cleaning by mechanical removal (glove/sponge) or thorough rinsing, preferably with a high-pressure cleaner with a pressure greater than 160 bar. If necessary, repeat steps 5 and 6.
7. Proceed to the next step.

• Pressure of the cleaner.
• Type of injector (each brand has an injector that creates the vacuum, e.g. 1.25 means 1 litre for every 25 litres of water).
• The lance opening setting.
• Product density.

• Pressure washer: 140 bar.
• Injector 1.25.
• Lance opening: all closed.
• Product density: 1 g/cm3 as water.
• We use pure shampoo or pre-wash in the lance.

• Shampoo/ Pre-wash used pure the final solution on the car at 1:15.
• Shampoo/Prelvage prediluted 1:1 we will have 1:30 final solution.
• Shampoo/Prelvage prediluted 1:2 will have a final solution of 1:45.
• Shampoo/Prelvage prediluted 1:3 will have a final solution of 1:60.
• Shampoo/Prelvage prediluted 1:4 will have a final solution of 1:75.
• Shampoo/Prelvage prediluted 1:5 will have a final solution of 1:90.

Water film technique in car detailing

The water veil technique, also called the "water cloth" technique, is based on the principle of creating a waterfall effect that drags the water present on the surface with it. If done correctly, especially on vehicles treated with sealant or wax, only a few traces will remain, easily removed with a cloth.

How to carry out the water veil technique.

Please note: The technique can be applied on a car treated with H20 Hydro Coat and thoroughly washed. It performs best on cars protected with Innovacar by Fra-Ber wax and/or sealant such as SC0 Hydro Sealant and SC1 Sealant.

1. Equip yourself with a water hose or watering can without a sprayer.
2. Starting from the top of the vehicle, rinse from left to right until the water begins to flow down from the edges. Starting from the top of the vehicle, rinse from left to right.
3. Quickly lower the hose or watering can to "catch" the falling water from the top of the vehicle, moving this time from right to left.
4. Lower the tube again and continue in the opposite direction, moving from left to right.
5. Continue this technique until you have reached the bottom of the vehicle.
6. Finish drying the vehicle.

Drying the vehicle in car detailing

Incorrect drying is one of the most common, but also most impactful, mistakes made when cleaning a car. For best results, before using a cloth it is advisable to use an electric dryer for those hard-to-reach areas, such as the edges of seals, spaces between sections etc. This will prevent dripping in the later stages or at restart.
The microfiber drying cloth is also an inseparable component in the cleaning process. Innovacar offers two very thick and soft cloth solutions to absorb more water and dirt (up to 7 times more than cotton) are perfect for use on treated cars: Micron XXL and Micron Buffing.

How to dry the vehicle properly.

1. If no subsequent polishing or ceramic treatments are planned, use H20 Hydro Coat sprayed while the car is still wet, in order to facilitate the sliding of the water film and give protection and brilliance.
2. Use the water veil technique.
3. If you have an electric compressed air dryer, dry hard-to-reach areas such as the edges of seals, bolts, mirrors, windows and headlights.
4. Starting from the top of the vehicle and working your way down, wipe off (avoid pressing) any remaining water with the microfibre cloth.
5. If you are doing a maintenance wash, we recommend finishing with W1 Quick Detailer using a Micron 2Face microfibre to enhance the car's shine.