There's a lot more to the perfect car wash than just rinsing the grime off your ride. We talked to professional auto detailer and founder of AMMO NYC, Larry Kosilla, for some expert advice. "To me, detailing is about chasing perfection. The addiction is believing that one day I might be able to achieve it," he told us.

These 10 tips will help you get the most out of your weekend wash sessions.

1. Never even touch your car without a lubricant such as water, spray wax, waterless wash, or soap.

These lift contaminants from the surface, "so you won't grind soil into the paint and spend the rest of the day buffing out the scratches," says Kosilla.

2. Be methodical4>

Try to work in this order: wheels, paint, interior, and glass. Otherwise, you'll waste precious time fumbling around washing and rewashing. Doing the wheels first, before you wet the rest of the car, prevents water spots from forming on the paint. Wash the glass last in case you smudge the windows while cleaning the interior.

3. Designate one bucket and mitt for painted areas only

Dirty wheels often contain brake dust, which can scratch your paint, so and keep another wash mitt in a separate bucket for the wheels.

4. Use a Grit Guard Insert in your bucket

This will keep soiled mitts clean and prevent them from picking up dirt that settles at the bottom.

5. Scrub wheels with Wheel Woolies

These specialized brushes are engineered to quickly and easily get into intricate spokes and lug-nut crevices.

6. Always use microfiber towels (not sponges) on your paint

These are ideal for both washing and drying because of their ability to pick up and release dirt. "Microfiber has replaced the traditional chamois leather," Kosilla says. He uses a heavy 300- to 400-gsm (gram-per-square-meter) cloth, which is gentler on paint.

7. You can skip water altogether

If you prefer, you can clean your car with a waterless wash product. Apply it with a clean microfiber towel folded into quarters. "Use a scooping motion while applying the least amount of pressure necessary for the cloth to make contact and pick up the dirt," Kosilla says. This will require five to 10 towels and 10 to 20 ounces of waterless wash.

8. Use a light-mist spray wax or a hydrophobic drying agent

Apply either to your car's wet painted surfaces and wipe dry with a damp towel. "The microfiber towel will pick up any remaining dirt that was missed during the wash and apply a thin layer of protection during the drying process."

9. Shoot air into tight spots with a portable vacuum blower

Use the blower to address problematic areas like mirrors, taillights, and emblems. "The point is to release trapped water that will ultimately spill out as you drive away," says Kosilla.

10. Use the vacuum's attachments to clean every gap, crevice, and air vent in your car's interior

Sweat those details and don't get lazy. Now that you're armed with the knowledge you need, get cleaning!

This article was originally published at PopularMechanics.com

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