When using a bucket & wash mitt to wash your car, Use the 2 Bucket method. The 2 bucket method reduces the chance of swirls in your paintwork from grit stuck on your wash mitt. Simply add water to one bucket, and then water and shampoo to another. Use the bucket filled with water to rinse the wash mitt after every time you wipe a panel of your vehicle.

Use a Grit Guard. Grit Guards are designed to place in the bottom of your bucket with water & shampoo in. The grit guard stops the sponge from hitting the bottom of the bucket where all of the grit collects but lets grit fall through it. If you do not own a grit guard you can purchase them for less than £10

When shampooing your car, start from the top and work your way down. The dirtiest part of the car is at the bottom !!

To avoid scratching your paintwork with a wash mitt, you can pre-wash your vehicle using Snow Foam. Snow foam lifts dirt off of your car and allows you to pressure washer it off so your wash mitt doesn't rub the dirt in.

Instead of using a leather chamois to dry your car, use a Microfiber Towel. it collects dirt and water and doesn't affect your paintwork as much as a rough chamois.

When polishing your car, use a moist microfiber or a moist polish applicator. If you apply polish with a dry applicator or microfiber it leaves dust on your paintwork. Also stay away from black plastics when polishing - it's a pain removing white marks.

When you apply wax or polish, make sure it is not done in direct sunlight. If you apply in direct sunlight this can dry into the paintwork. Keep your car cool and wax/polish the whole car and then leave for a few minutes before wiping off. If you wipe it straight off then it doesn't have time to settle into the paintwork.

Save your Wax !! Your vehicle doesn't need waxing weekly. Most hard waxes last up to 3 months and leave your car beading providing you use wax-safe shampoo (PH Neutral) instead of waxing your car weekly you can add a rapid detailer to the paintwork after a light wash. this will keep your car shining and stay protected.

Don't use cheap Tyre shine. Some cheap Tyre shine effects your Tyre's and makes them crack. Make sure you only apply Tyre shine when your Tyre's are starting to fade. Overdoing it could actually damage your Tyre.

When you have cleaned your windows, apply window polish. Window polish helps your vision when you are driving in the rain. It repels rain and also makes them gleam when the sun's out.