Millions of people are under hosepipe bans, which may leave you wondering what to do if your car needs a hose down. Motoring experts have shared some thoughts on how to clean your motor effectively even while these restrictions are in place.
Targeted Cleaning
Steve Walker, head of digital content at Auto Express, said: "Water companies have suggested that, during a drought, we should wear a dirty car as a badge of honour because it shows we are doing our bit to conserve water. But there are occasions when your car really does need a clean. The good news is that you don’t need a hosepipe to keep it looking presentable."
Mr Walker shared his top tips for how to keep your car looking spick and span. You may want to focus on the areas that most need cleaning rather than making sure the entire car gets a wash.
Mr Walker said: "The windscreen can be cleared easily using a combination of wet and dry microfibre cloths, or a dedicated cleaner like Bilt Hamber Traceless. To protect paintwork, you should remove traces of bird droppings and insect splats as soon as possible so that they don’t scar to the finish as they bake in the hot weather. Wet a cloth with screen-wash fluid to get rid of them while they are fresh, or use a specialist bird dropping cleaner like Autoglym’s Bird Dropping Wipes. For older marks try CarPlan’s No1 Super Bug."
Garage Jet Wash
Generally, commercial car washes are exempt from hosepipe restrictions, as they recycle the water they use. But the Auto Express team advises against visiting these places as they can damage your paintwork. Plus the spinning brushes will miss some areas.
Mr Walker recommends: "Instead, use a jet wash, but take your own wash mitt (the attached brush is often covered in dirt and grit) to wipe the bodywork after applying the foam. Once you have rinsed your car, try and dry the paint before the water evaporates and leaves spots and streaks."
Bucket and Watering Can
Mr Walker said: "It is possible to wash a car using a bucket and watering can, it is just harder work because you will need to keep filling up from the tap rather than using a hose. It is easier to wash the car in the shade when the paintwork is cool – early mornings or late evenings are ideal – and then wet the car using the watering can and use a pre-wash on tougher dirt spots such as bird droppings or dead flies."
You can even still use your pressure water to use some of the water from your bucket. As long as it's not connected to a tap you won't be breaking the rules. Once you have cleaned and rinsed your car, you should dry it as quickly as possible to prevent streaks and stains.
Waterless Wash and Rain
This is where you use a concentrated cleaning fluid to clean your car, without using any water from the tap. Mr Walker said this method can be effective "if your car only has a lighter layer of dirt and dust".
He explained: "Get a stack of microfibre cloths (so you always have a clean section to wipe) and generously spray the fluid on the panels to help prevent scratches. It should leave a shine which is better than washing with water, and these washes also add a protective coating, which helps protect the paint from further dirt."
Rain is normally not what you want when you are cleaning your car, but it can be a big help during a hosepipe ban. Mr Walker said: "A shower will wet the car ready for washing and even potentially rinse it again afterwards. You will get wet yourself of course, but in the blazing heat that is not bad thing. Check the forecast before you dry the car or your efforts could be wasted, and don't go out if lightning is predicted."
