HOW TO CLEAN A CAR

NZ Truth, Issue 1149, 8 December 1927, Page 19

HOW TO CLEAN A CAR

Some Hints for Keeping Bodies

In Good Order

Any car, however it may be finished, and whatever type of body it may have, will soon appear neglected and shabby if it is not cleaned periodically. It is true that the introduction of cellulose finish and fabric-covered bodies has rendered the task of the owner-driver easier so far as cleaning is concerned, but it has not entirely relieved him of responsibility.

FOR varnished paintwork there ls, unless special preparations axe

employed, only one treatment, washing with plenty of olean water. After a run on wet, muddy roads, the oar should preferably be washed at once before it can dry, but quite naturally the owner- driver is somewhat averse to donning washing ologs and overalls at the conclusion of a long day's run, when his thoughts are Jirobably turning towards dinner, and requently the oar is left to dry. Now, the washing of a oar is on art, for although the mud must toe removed, it must be done without soratching the delioate varnished surface. It ls sometimes stated that the oar should be hosed down with as high a water pressure as oan be obtained, but, while this will remove the mud, it is likely to force a certain amount of the road grit into the varnish. Here is a good method to adopt: Assume that the car has Just come m from a run on- muddy roads, and that the bonnet and scuttle are warm; before these parts are washed, they must be allowed to cool. First the wheels and under part of the chassis may be hosed down, and then attention should be paid to the main part of the body, starting at one front door and working round the back to the other front door.

For washing; the body, high water pressure is not required; the hose should be held m the left hand and should give a steady, but not fierce, flow of water.

The sponge, which should be held ln the right hand, must be perfectly clean. It should be used -with an up and down motion, ana the flow ot water from the hose should toe directed just m front of it. Frequently the sponge should be dipped m a bucket of clean water to remove any grit it may have picked up. Next, go over the main part of the body with the sponge wrung as dry as possible, still with an up and down movement, and working from one front door" round to the other. Finally, go over the car again with the chamois leather, noting that the soft side of the leather should be used. Previously, of oourse, the leather should -have been soaked and wrung out dry; it may then be conveniently folded into a pad with the soft side outwards. The rear wings should now be washed, working from front to back, flrst with the hose and sponge, then with the dry sponge, and finally with leather.

By now the bonnet and scuttle should be cold, and the top should be washed flrst, working: from the radiator back to the screen, followed by the sides, working up and down. Lastly, the front wings should be washed

working from front to back, and a filial rub over given with a- dry chamois leather or duster to bring up a fine polish.

If the mud has been allowed to dry on, the task of washing down is rendered more dlffiouit, and the first operation Is thoroughly to soak tho mud with a good flow of water from the hose, but not using high pressure.

Thlok patches of mud may be 4ab-

bed with a very wet sponge, and when all the mud is thoroughly wet the washing procedure just outlined m detail should be followed.

Usually the wheels can best be cleaned by jacking up each one m turn, and by using the hose and a spoke brush, or one of the mops specially made for the purpose. Some of these are formed with water passages m them, so that they can be attached to the hose, water actually flowing out through the hairs, and such a brush will prove very useful for cleaning wire wheels. It is important that brushes or 3ponges used for the wheels, axles, or other such'pasts of the chassis, shall not be used for the highly polished coachwork, for it is more than likely that they will take up a certain amount of oil or grease, which would result m nasty smears on a highly polished surface.