OVERLAND PARK, KS (June 3, 2009) – As the CARSTAR Collision Centers throughout the United States and Canada prepare to set the Guinness World Record for Largest Car Wash, its automotive experts share their tips on getting your car really clean and protecting the finish from sun, dirt and debris.
For the car’s exterior, Courtney Hansen, 3M Car Care expert and ambassador for the 
Soaps It Up! Carwash, says the key is to get all of the exterior finishes thoroughly washed and restored, then protected with a long-lasting finish to stand up to hot sun and coastal climates. Her top 10 tips include:
1. Get the fresh water running. Make sure there is a hose with a powerful spray and two buckets of water – one for washing and one with fresh clean water for rinsing.
2. Rinse the car with clean water to remove loose winter salt, sand, dirt and grime without removing wax protection.
3. Remove the tar and debris with an adhesive and wax remover. Just rub it on with a microfiber cloth, let sit for a few minutes to loosen dirt, old wax and tar, then wipe off.
4. Use 3M car wash soap for the task – dish detergent can be too harsh for a vehicle’s paint and clear coat finish
5. Start with the top of the car and wash down – roof first, windshields and glass, hood and trunk, then sides and wheels.
6. Dip the sponge in the soapy water and wash each section, then rinse in the second bucket of water. That way you don’t return dirt and grime to the car’s surface.
7. Rinse as you complete each section to avoid suds drying on car.
8. Use hard spray to rinse tires and clean with sponge or brush.
9. Wipe down the glass with paper towels to avoid streaks.
10. Dry the car with a chamois or cotton towel to avoid water spots.
The “Soaps It Up!” Car Wash held across the U.S. and Canada on June 20, 2009 is a fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis in Canada and the Make-A-Wish Foundation® in the U.S., as well as some local market charities. More than 200 CARSTAR stores throughout both countries are expected to participate in the one-day event. Tickets are being sold at participating CARSTAR stores for $10, with 100 percent of the ticket purchases benefiting the selected charities.
To set the Guinness World Record for “Most Cars Washed – Multiple Venues”, CARSTAR will need to wash more than 4,000 vehicles during an eight-hour period at all of the participating locations. Local scouting troops, charity volunteers and CARSTAR staff will be on hand to wash the vehicles as well as a Guinness World Records® official to validate the feat if successful.
For more information on the “Soaps It Up!” Car Wash, visit www.CARSTAR.com to find participating CARSTAR locations, get more information on the program and track the progress toward the Guinness World Record on the day of the event.
About CARSTAR
CARSTAR is the largest group of branded collision repair centers in North America with over 400 locally owned and operated locations in 27 states and 10 Canadian provinces. CARSTAR is committed to providing consistent quality services to our customers and insurance partners and has repaired more than 2.5 million cars since it was founded in 1989. Our technicians and front office staff receive ongoing training to ensure they are qualified to work on any vehicle. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority as we consistently lead the industry in customer satisfaction ratings.
CARSTAR not only has the highest customer satisfaction rating in the industry, but it is also involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. CARSTAR is involved with many charitable events at the local level to help raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, as well as having recreated a 1967 Super Snake Ford Mustang, the CARSTAR SuperStang. The SuperStang is touring the United States on the SuperStang Muscle Tour to help support the Make-A-Wish® cause. For more information, visit www.carstar.com.
About the Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 65 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 174,000 wishes in the United States since its inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®. ###