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Sign up nowUsing a pressure washer to clean your car is easier than hand washing, and it uses less water than a hosepipe.
But do it wrong and you could end up chipping the paintwork, ruining your tyres or soaking the interior.
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If you're using a machine with a variable jet spray, adjust it to a spray of approximately 5-8cm wide.
You want the spray to be strong enough to clean the car but not to damage the paintwork.
You will need to use a slightly wider and less powerful setting for the windows, lights and other fragile areas.
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Sign up nowSet the pressure-washer nozzle to the widest and least powerful setting - or remove it altogether - to coat the entire car in a layer of detergent.
Let it work its magic for a few moments, but don't let it dry or you'll be left with blemishes that will have to be buffed out later.
Use an attachable car brush to make the job quicker.
If you're using the same one to clean the wheels and wheel arches, as well as the paintwork, do the wheel areas last.
When cleaning the wheels or wheel arches there's more chance of the brush picking up small stones and grit, and you don't want to be rubbing these against the paint.
Rinse the brush thoroughly once you've finished using it to make sure all grit is removed.
Again, using a slightly stronger setting for the paint than the glass areas.
If you don't have a variable nozzle to adjust the power and width of the spray, just stand further away from the car - one metre should be a safe distance to prevent any damage.
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