Washing a car used to mean a bucket of soapy water, cut off blue jeans, a garden hose, and at least one water fight. But did you know that it still can? Those who market car care products would have you believe that the finishes on today’s cars require special care. Don’t waste your money – washing your car is still the work of a simple afternoon with simple tools.

Let’s start with the soap. You can use dishwashing liquid or laundry detergent or you can spend money for special automotive soap, although any of the above will do a good job. You can also use special soaps for hard or soft water, but again, when washing a car, these exist more to satisfy a marketers need to sell something than to satisfy your need for a clean car. The soap you use is much less important than how well you rinse the car.

Speaking of rinsing, start off by giving the car a good rinse – just make sure all windows are rolled up! If you’re using soap, start by soaping up the roof of the car, then soap front and rear windshields, side windows, and side mirrors. Finally, soap up the hood, doors and rear of the car, being sure to carefully wash the headlights, tail lights, and tag area. Rinse the car completely to remove any soap residues.

You should tackle the tires last. Tires can be notoriously hard to clean, so here it does make sense to consider a special cleaner. For example, if your tires have wide white walls, you’ll want a special cleaner that will show off your wheels to their best advantage. Follow the label directions for any commercial product. For example, you’ll usually need a firm brush to scrub the tires instead of using a sponge for best results. And as with the body, be sure to rinse carefully up inside the wheel well.

Once your car is rinsed, you can let it air dry or dry it yourself with a soft cloth, such as a chamois. Just be sure that the cloth is as clean as possible – any dirt or debris on the cloth can scratch your car’s finish as you’re drying it.

To clean the interior of the car, start by removing all debris. The floor mats should be removed and cleaned appropriately according to the type of mat you have. Rubber mats can be given a quick scrub with soapy water and rinsed well, while carpeted mats may need to be shampooed using rug cleaner. Set the mats aside to dry and then replace them when you’re finished cleaning the interior of the car.

Next, vacuum the interior of the car thoroughly. A good brushing may take care of the interior carpet and upholstery. If not, use cleaners designed for upholstery and carpet, following the label directions. If your upholstery is made from leather, use a cleaner especially designed for leather surfaces, as other products can damage this material.

Interior surfaces of the car should be wiped with an all purpose cleaner. Avoid using excessive liquid near any electrical equipment. The interior of the windshields, windows and any interior mirrors should be cleaned with glass cleaner – the same kind you use indoors on your home. However, if your windows contain heating elements, check your owner’s manual to make sure you don’t damage the heating elements in the cleaning process.

At the completion of this process, your car will be clean. If you have special cleaning issues, such as tar, sap or gum on the outside of the car, you can either purchase a special product or have your car professionally detailed to take care of the problem. To further protect your car’s finish, you may also want to wax the car. And don’t forget an air freshener with that “new car” scent!