Wash Bay Process
Set up the vehicle for full access before washing.
Work in a consistent order around the vehicle to stay efficient.
Preparation
Pull the car into the wash bay. Open all doors, hood, trunk, and gas door.
Remove all floor mats, including carpet and rubber.
Inspect the engine bay and cover any sensitive electronics.
Vacuum leaves or debris from the cowl and trunk jambs.
Degreasing and Pre-Clean
Using APC or degreaser, start from one corner and work around the vehicle in this order:
Left rear tire, trunk jamb, gas door, right rear tire, right rear door, right front door, engine and front grille, windshield, left front tire, left front door, left rear door.
Spray each tire, inner fender well, jamb, and engine bay area.
Agitate with a soft bristle brush on tires, underhood areas, and engine.
Apply wheel cleaner and lightly agitate. Perfection is not the goal at this stage.
Pressure Wash
Turn on the pressure washer and follow the same path as above.
Rinse degreased areas, engine bay, and body.
With the car still wet, revisit the wheels and perform more detailed cleaning.
Wash and Decontamination
If you have a helper, have them soap and wash the car while you address the wheels.
Soap and scrub the vehicle thoroughly.
Optional Step 1: Clay the paint and glass surfaces.
Rinse the vehicle.
Optional Step 2: Apply a chemical decontamination product and scrub surfaces.
Rinse again.
Drying
Dry the vehicle with clean microfiber towels.
Use compressed air or a blower to speed drying and remove water from crevices.
Floor Mats
Floor mats can be sprayed during the degreasing step and rinsed during the pressure wash step.
Hang mats to remove excess water and allow them to dry before reinstalling.