Step-by-Step Guide: Using a Steam Cleaner to Detail Your Car's Exterior
1. Pre-Soaping Car Paint to Encapsulate the Dirt
If car extremely dirty, we recommend spray Fortador Blue Magic using spray bottle to let dirt start capsulating, recommended dilution ratio is 1 oz for 2 gallons of water, during your prepping time it will start to attack the dirt. So steaming will be much easier and takes less time, also prevent getting water spots if you wash under the sun.
2. Prepping Your Washing Solutions
a) Fortador Blue Magic Car Wash Soap, dilution ratio is standard - 1 oz for 2 gallons of water
or
b) Fortador Green Magic Car Wash&Wax Soap, use standard dilution ration 1 oz for 2 gal of water
both our waterless solutions are working as water softeners, so you can use normal tap water.
Learn more about washing microfiber towel for reuse.
3. Filling Your Rinsing Bucket with Tap Water
4. Starting Your Fortador Steamer
wait till it reach 16 bar (235 PSI) - Fortador PRO steamer or 20 bar (295 PSI) Fortador PRO Max Vacuum Steam cleaner of steam pressure
5. Rinsing with Wet Steam
If car is extremely dirty, you can blow it using Fortador Steamer in WET mode first, if car is in "OK" conditions you can start washing process
The technic is very easy and we hope you will loved it.
6. Starting the Washing Process
Put your Sponge or Mitt in Washing bucket and let it completely dwell
7. Steam Washing Using Two Hands
Take Steam hose in Right hand and Sponge/Mitt in Left hand (Sponge must be not super wet), after first pass
keep distance between hands 8-10 inches, and steaming the panel from side to side from top to bottom. Use Sponge or Washing MIttas a heat protector from Steam. After first pass, flip sponge and perform the wash one more time. You will have panel wet and clean, if you do just wash wipe panel with clean microfiber, if you want to do waxing spray once Fortador White Wax on the panel and use it as a drying agent, so Wash, Wax on one move without any waste of time.
Learn more about best drying towels for cars
8. Cleaning Your Washing Sponge/Mitt after Every Panel
After panel is done clean Washing MItt or Sponge in Water bucket first, squeeze it and put it in the bucket with Fortador Blue Magic or Fortador Green Magic Wash&Wax afterwards.
Learn more about best washing mitts for car wash.
Check this guide for car clay treatment
9. Determining Where to Start and Finish
Start washing from Hood and go around the car washing each panel one by one overlapping the edges.
10. Steam Washing the Wheels
You can use heavy degreaser to prep your wheel for cleaning
If you have any questions about using steam in any application contact us through the form
Pro Tip
Use a soft detailing brushes for hard-to-reach areas and stubborn dirt. It helps agitate and remove dirt from crevices, door handles, and emblems. Choose a brush with soft bristles to avoid scratching the paint. Achieve a thorough and impeccable result in your car detailing with a steam cleaner.