Summer heat often makes car washing difficult. Almost every car wash product bottle reads "Do not use in direct sunlight" and "Ensure surfaces are cool before use." Why are such warnings written, what can happen if these instructions are neglected, and how can one manage to wash their car in this heat?
Often, the dwell time is crucial for car wash products.
In hot weather, liquids tend to evaporate and dry quickly. It's important for the cleaning agent to "sit" on the surface to be cleaned so that it can penetrate the dirt as effectively as possible. If the product isn't given enough dwell time, its effectiveness decreases, and the surface may not become clean.
The greatest danger is the car wash product itself drying on the car's surface. Car wash products often contain various acids and alcohol-based substances. When these dry, there's a significant risk that the car's surface could be damaged if the chemical has time to dry on the surface being cleaned.
The final danger is water drying on a clean surface. In Finland, tap water contains lime, which hardens on the surface when it dries, appearing as white rings. This is why drying the car after washing is also important. And dust won't stick to a dry car immediately!
So, when washing your car, it's always good to first check that the surfaces to be cleaned are cool and the car is protected from the sun! If protection from the sun is hard to find, a good tactic is to turn the car so that one side is away from the sun and wash it using cool water. Once that side of the car is clean, turn the car and wash the other side.
