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" Washing the car (and then tidying the interior!) is one of the bigger chores on your weekend to-do list. And if\u00A0you&amp;#039;re taking the time scrub down your vehicle, don&amp;#039;t\u00A0you want to make sure you&amp;#039;re doing it correctly? Thought so. Which is why we asked our experts from the Good Housekeeping Institute about the common\u00A0mistakes people make when they clean\u00A0their ride:  1. You wash it in the hot sun.\u00A0 Just like sunlight helps you dry off your body after a dip into the ocean, it can also dry your just-rinsed\u00A0car \u2014 but\u00A0too quickly. This results in water spots, says Carolyn Forte, director of the Cleaning Lab\u00A0at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Instead, try to do this chore in the morning or evening when the sun is less direct.\u00A0 2.\u00A0You use\u00A0dish liquid on the exterior. Stop! Whatever you do, just stop. While dish\u00A0detergent\u00A0is handy in the kitchen, you shouldn&amp;#039;t use it on your car. It&amp;#039;s too harsh on the\u00A0car&amp;#039;s paint, and might result in scratches that look like\u00A0spider webs. 3.\u00A0You only use one bucket of water. You actually need two: One for\u00A0soapy water and one for\u00A0rinsing, says Rachel Rothman, Technical and Engineering Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute\u00A0(and many\u00A0car detailing experts agree). If you rinse your car with the same soapy water with which you&amp;#039;ve washed it, you risk scratching the car with the dirt that&amp;#039;s contaminated that water. Plus, a rinse bucket ensures all the\u00A0soap gets washed away at the end of the job.  4. You don&amp;#039;t clean from top to bottom. If you&amp;#039;re scrubbing down your car&amp;#039;s exterior haphazardly in every direction (bottom to top, left to right) then you&amp;#039;re doing yourself a disservice,\u00A0according to\u00A0Rothman.\u00A0The\u00A0best\u00A0way to prevent\u00A0streaks is to\u00A0clean\u00A0your car from top to bottom,\u00A0so water doesn&amp;#039;t run on to\u00A0dry patches mid-wash \u2014\u00A0cleaning in one direction also helps prevent scratches. 5.\u00A0You forget to clean your tires. Obviously tires are one of the dirtiest parts of you car\u00A0(after all, they&amp;#039;re what\u00A0is\u00A0dragged through who knows what on the road). Which is why it&amp;#039;s so important to\u00A0wash &amp;#039;em:\u00A0&amp;quot;They are rotating pieces, so if mud or dirt tracts onto the wheel it\u00A0may get onto other parts of the vehicle too,&amp;quot;\u00A0says Rothman. 6.\u00A0You let the hose run while you scrub.\u00A0 Just like you should turn off the water when you brush your teeth, you should do the same when washing your car \u2014 it&amp;#039;s a waste of water and many towns have ordinances against this, Forte warns.  7.\u00A0You don&amp;#039;t clean or protect your antenna.\u00A0 Most new vehicles have antennas that retract into your car when you turn the engine\u00A0off and ends up\u00A0dragging\u00A0filth into your car if they&amp;#039;re not clean. One simple way to ward dirt off? Rub the antenna with wax paper to give it protective coat that will repel gunk. 8.\u00A0You turn a blind eye to cup holders. While they&amp;#039;re handy for your\u00A0fast food soda, you might get stuck with\u00A0a sticky mess that harbors bacteria if you accidentally spill said drink.\u00A0To clean them\u00A0out, throw removable\u00A0plastic holders into the dishwasher, let them\u00A0sit 20 minutes, then wipe clean.\u00A0Or if yours aren&amp;#039;t removable opt for\u00A0warm, soapy water and a little\u00A0elbow grease instead. 9.\u00A0You roll down your windows before they&amp;#039;re dry.\u00A0 Did you know it can take your car up to two to three hours to completely dry? Most people don&amp;#039;t,\u00A0and end up rolling down their windows prematurely, which causes water streaks on your just-washed exterior. Patience is a virtue, so just\u00A0wait a few hours next time. 10.\u00A0You neglect your floor mats.\u00A0 This is one of the dirtiest parts of your car, because it&amp;#039;s where your shoes track in dirt and debris. To maintain this area, you should first vacuum thoroughly, then attack stains with a remover and a brush if needed, and let dry. 11. You don&amp;#039;t think about one of the germiest spots on your car.\u00A0 The dashboard. You touch it a lot (especially if you can&amp;#039;t pick a radio station!), sun shines directly on it (germs love\u00A0warmth), and vents that push in and draw out air help circulate bacteria.\u00A0And since those vents push air into your face, too,\u00A0you should wipe the dashboard\u00A0down with a disinfecting wipe regularly.  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a35060/car-cleaning-mistakes/>