It's generally not ideal to wash your car on a sunny day for a few reasons:

1. Water Spots: Sunlight can cause water to dry too quickly, leading to spots and streaks on the surface.
2. Soap Dried Too Fast: If soap dries quickly, it can be harder to rinse off completely, leaving a residue.
3. Heat: The heat can make the car’s surface hot, which might not be good for some cleaning products.

If you can, try to wash your car in the shade or during cooler parts of the day, like early morning or late afternoon. This helps ensure a more thorough and effective wash!

While it might be tempting to wash your car in the sun for convenience, it is generally not the best option. Doing so can lead to numerous drawbacks, including damage to your vehicle's paint and finish. It is advised to: Wash your car in shaded or cooler areas to maintain its appearance effectively.

Choose the right products

A neutral pH car soap/shampoo
Wash mitt
A minimum of two buckets
Microfiber towels
A wax/sealant product
A neutral pH soap
Some cleaning products perform better than others in excessive heat. Typically, we recommend a high-quality, pH-neutral soap for working in hot temperatures. While less effective at lifting debris and dirt than low-pH soaps, pH-neutral soaps don’t leave behind damage if they dry on a vehicle's surface.

Wash mitt
Wash mitts are helpful to use in sunny conditions. These surface-friendly mitts readily soak up cleaning solutions and hold plenty of liquid throughout application.

Two buckets
One bucket is self-explanatory, but why would you need two? We recommend using a two-bucket wash system, with one pail designated for clean water, and the other for dirty.

Microfiber towels
Microfiber towels rapidly dry surfaces, helping you to avoid streaking or water spots. Small fibers, engineered to soak up and hold liquids, make up these towels. They are inexpensive, reusable, and environmentally friendly.

Wax/sealant product
A sealant or wax product adds a layer of protection to your newly-cleaned car. Choose a wax or sealant protectant. Wax-based products use natural ingredients that sit on the car's surface to provide a warm shine. In comparison, sealants are more durable. Sealants chemically bond to the surface of the car, allowing them to better resist UV rays and environmental pollutants. Regardless of which you choose, we highly recommend that you apply a protective product.

Let the car cool off
Hot weather raises the temperature of a car's exterior to just under molten-lava-level. Driving your car on a warm day or parking it in direct sunlight dramatically heats its surface.

Before cleaning, allow your car to cool for a few hours in a garage or other shaded area. Don’t hose down your vehicle to hasten its cooling. Applying cold water to your car's hot surface may damage its finish.

Prepare
Gather all your supplies before beginning the cleaning process. Cleaning in hot weather requires you to move faster than usual, so predesignate a spot for each product or tool. Keep your items off the ground, in a spot covered by shade – especially if you're working with aerosol cleaners. Use a table or tool cart to keep implements clean, relatively cool, and ready to use.

If you don't have a table or cart handy, use a towel and an umbrella to create a work area. Lay a clean beach towel on the ground and arrange your cleaning supplies upon it. Tilt an opened umbrella over the towel to provide some shade. Asphalt and macadam radiate heat, so lay the towel on the grass if possible.

Focus on small sections
During summer detailing, time is not on your side. The hot sun evaporates water and cleaning fluids quickly. Before you begin, mentally note key sections of your vehicle’s exterior. Use these sections to map out areas and track your progress. Focus on small areas and move rapidly. Have a hose or water bucket nearby. If your solution begins to dry too quickly, use water and additional cleaner to rehydrate the surface.

Dry the surface
Many people are tempted to let the sun dry their vehicle. Some dry their car by taking it for a spin around the block after washing. Either method leads to water spots and streaks. We suggest you muster up some elbow grease and dry your car in small sections as you clean.

Clean off water spots and streaks
Despite careful cleaning and precautions, water spots and streaks are often inevitable when working in hot conditions. Fortunately, quick action removes these eyesores.

Most water spots disappear with some water -- via hose, bucket, or spray bottle -- followed by a wipe down. Persistent water spots may require additional products. Remove stubborn spots by reapplying a little car shampoo along with some water.