Never use ordinary dish soap to wash your car.

Most Americans like to treat their cars with tender loving care, and that includes washing them by hand to keep them looking "showroom new." But washing a car, with all it's delicate finishes and special parts, isn't as simple as scrubbing a plate or saucer in the sink. To guarantee that you get your vehicle clean and shiny without doing any damage, you'll need to follow a few rules and guidelines.

Chris Walton is a journalist and auto expert who has served as Senior Road Test Editor at Motor Trend Magazine. Here he offers his advice for car owners who want to do an expert job of washing their vehicles at home:

• Special soap. According to Walton, you should never wash your car using dish soap. Use products made just for car washing. You should also never apply the soap while the car is dry; the first step should always be to hose down the car completely.

• Soft cloth. It's also a good idea to use a sheepskin style cloth or a soft terry towel; a sponge can actually grind in some of the dirt and cause scratches.

• Top down. Walton likes to wash the roof and windows first, rinse off the soap and then move to the next section, like the hood or the trunk. If you do it the other way around, you'll be rinsing soap down onto parts you've already washed, making more work for yourself.

• Tires last. Because brake dust makes the wheels and tires the dirtiest part of your car, washing them will make your rag dirty. It's a good idea to wash these parts last.

• Drying. Despite the hi-tech drying cloths you may have seen advertised, a regular soft terry towel really does do the best job. Walton recommends throwing it over the top of the car like a drape or a sheet and pulling it towards you. This way you don't run the risk of scratching the car with a belt buckle. And just like you washed the car, you should dry it off from the top down.

• Bird issues. Walton believes you should always remove any bird droppings right away. They are very acidic and can eat through your car's clear coat. Quick detailing sprays, which are designed for use between waxes, are good for this purpose.

• Extra tips. If possible, try and wash the car in the shade. And once the car is clean, it's the perfect time to apply protectants. The new spray finishes are great and a snap to apply.

For more information about washing your car and general auto maintenance, check out the following organizations and websites:

Pure Honda.com: Car Washing Tips
www.purehonda.com/cool/wash.html

Miata.net: Product Reviews—Includes reviews of car washing products.
miata.net/products/body/index.html

AAA
www.aaa.com/scripts/WebObjects.dll/ZipCode

Auto Care Forum
www.autocareforum.com

Professional Carwashing & Detailing Online
carwash.com

Car Care Council
www.carcarecouncil.org