Removing Tough Water Spots:

Salts "eat" into your paint and glass and can be difficult to remove if they remain for any length of time. Use a soft "terry" towel dampened with a little white vinegar to remove.

Vacuum Before You Wash:

If you plan to vacuum your Corvette, do so before you wash. This will prevent you from blowing dust and dirt all over your clean car, and loose dirt is easier to vacuum before it gets wet.

Remove Tar & Road Oil ( also Label adhesive)

Dampen a soft "terry" towel with a little cooking oil and rub the tar away. WD-40 can also be used to remove label adhesive.  Be sure to wash and wax the area afterwards.

Remove Tree Sap & Pitch

To remove tree sap or pine pitch from your vehicle's surface, use finger nail polish remover on a cotton ball. After the sap is removed, make a paste of water and baking soda to wash the affected area, and then apply wax.

Or...
A gentler way, Use mineral sprits (it will also remove tar). Use a soft "terry" towel, or wash cloth dampened with mineral sprits. After removal, Wash the car and apply wax to the affected area.

Remove Odors:

You can place one of those clothes dryer softener sheet in your car for a couple of days to remove odors. If you’re going to store it for a long time, put a couple in.

Washing

Rinse off dirt prior to washing a car. Any dirt that is rubbed into the surface can cause scratches. Dish washing detergents are designed to strip grease and grime and will actually strip off any wax protection your car has. Use a product specifically designed for cars.

Use a large bucket (at least 5 gallons) so that dirt particles sink to the bottom and the fresh suds and water you apply are free of major contamination. Some people use two buckets, one for rinsing and one for the suds.

Make sure your car surface is cool (preferably in the shade) by hosing the entire vehicle down starting from the bottom. Apply suds to the upper areas first using thick terry cloth towels or a wash mitt and work your way down.

Rinse the car clean by running a slow stream of water instead of a high pressure spray to reduce water spots and drying time. When washing your vehicle by hand, take the time to run your wash mitt along the inside bottom edge of the doors, lift gate, hood and trunk. These areas trap dirt and moisture

Clean the tires first, then the wheels. Cleaning the wheels, especially those with today's clear coat finishes, is important since brake dust and road salt can cause irreversible corrosion

Once the entire vehicle is washed and rinsed, take a clean, dry towel or cloth and wipe the vehicle down, again starting at the top. We also recommend products like a synthetic chamois. Leather chamois tend to pull oils from the paint and will even take the wax off.