Here's how to pressure wash your car without damaging it.
Time A few hours
ComplexityBeginner
Cost$5–10
Introduction
If pressure washing your car still sounds like a good idea, follow these steps to do it properly and get your car shining like a pro.
We all love a clean, spotless car, and we also love using our pressure washer. So why not combine the two? “It might be a good idea to remove caked-on dirt, bugs, salt and grime from hard-to-reach areas,” says Parham Koukia, operations manager at Panda Hub in Toronto. “But too much pressure washer can chip paint, drive water into sensitive spots or even damage sensors and trims.”
Before causing significant damage to your paint job, there are two important factors to consider when using a pressure washer: the pressure level and nozzle tip size. Choose a pressure washer with settings from 1200 to 1900 pounds per square inch (PSI). Nozzle tips are color-coded by size. Choose a 25-degree (green) tip for cleaning wheels and caked-on mud. A 40-degree (white) tip is ideal for all the surfaces of your vehicle.
Koukia recommends avoiding pressure washing if your car has loose paint, cracked clear coat or fragile trim. “Also, I don’t recommend pressure washing around exposed engine compartments, delicate badges or aftermarket decals,” he says.
Tools Required
- Garden hose connected to water source
- Pressure washer
- Towels
Materials Required
- Special detergent for pressure washers
Watch A Full Guide to Pressure Washing Your Car
Project step-by-step (4)
Pre-wash
Pre-washing helps break down, loosen and remove heavy grime and debris before you touch the surface with a wash mitt. “That means less contaminants on the surface, and therefore fewer chances for scratching your paint,” says Joey Sanchez of Chemical Guys. “Think of it as a prep step that makes your full wash safer and more effective.”
- Park your vehicle on a concrete or blacktop surface. Avoid gravel — you could kick up stones, damage your paint or crack a window.
- Roll up all your windows.
- Set your pressure washer to “water output” and use a 40-degree nozzle tip.
- Pre-wash by starting at the top and spraying downward, removing debris from the roof, hood and trunk. Continue spraying downward on the side panels, wheels and hubcaps, removing any stuck-on mud. You can even clean the wheel wells. However, don’t spray directly into the front grill; you could damage the radiator. Instead, spray downward at a 45-degree angle.
Soap and suds
- Most pressure washers feature a soap tank that requires filling. Be sure to check the water-to-soap-concentrate ratio. Fill the soap tank with the diluted soap solution.
“Always go with a soap that’s pH-balanced and designed specifically for automotive use,” says Koukia. “These are gentle on paint, wax and even ceramic coatings, but still effective on dirt.”
- If your pressure washer lacks a soap tank, apply the soap by hand with a rag or sponge.
- Set your pressure washer to the soap setting or replace the nozzle tip with a soap nozzle tip.
- Again, starting at the top of your vehicle, work your way down, applying soap over the whole vehicle.
- Let the soap sit on the vehicle for at least five minutes. If you’re washing your car in direct sunlight, wash one side at a time, rinsing off the soap before it dries.
Rinse time
- Switch your pressure washer setting from “soap output” to “water output,” or switch the nozzle back to a 40-degree nozzle tip.
- Start on the roof and work your way to the hood, trunk and sides, rinsing off all the soap thoroughly. Repeat this two or three times until the vehicle is completely rinsed.
Drying time
- Dry your vehicle with a hand towel, soft cloth or shammy. This will eliminate water spots when you air dry.
FAQ
What pressure setting is too high for washing a car?
Anything over 2,000 PSI with a narrow nozzle can be risky for damaging your paint, says Koukia. “I always tell clients to stay between 1,100 and 1,900 PSI, use a 25 or 40-degree nozzle and never spray closer than 12 inches from the surface.”
Is it okay to pressure wash wheels and undercarriage?
Yes, it’s one of the best ways to clean areas where grime builds up quickly and hand tools cannot reach, but use caution when cleaning fragile wheel finishes.
“Pressure washing will provide a much easier cleaning experience and lessen the amount of additional scrubbing you’ll have to do to get them clean,” says Koukia.
About the Experts
- Parham Koukia is the lead detailer and operations manager at Panda Hub in Toronto. He has spent more than a decade mastering the art of car detailing after turning his passion for automobiles into his profession.
- Joey Sanchez is an associate manager at the Chemical Guys online auto detailing supply retailer, where he provides expert advice and hands-on tutorials through the brand’s popular social media channels and viral videos.
