The Monticellonian., 1918-11-22
WASHING CAR IS
 VERY IMPORTANT
Unless Work Is Properly Done Finish of Body of Car Will
 Be Destroyed.
COOL WATER HELPS VARNISH
Several Practical Hints for New as We'll as Veteran Owners-Garage Gases Are Also Quite Injurious
 to Surface.

You can abuse the engine pretty consistently before it begins to con- plain. You can abuse the finish once or twice, and then you have no finish to abuse. The appearance of the car and the appearance of the finish are one and the same thing, and appear ance goes a long way toward deter mining the value of house, a horse or an automobile. The lack of washing and failure to wash properly will do more toward running the appearance of the car than any other thing.
 The yarnish of the new car is hard ened and benefited by frequent wash ing with clear cool water. Mud, al lowed to dry or freeze on the car, takes up all the oil from the varnish and leaves the finish streaked and spotted. Dirt Is not the only enemy, for garage gases and even the atmosphere of some cities attacks the finish of the car which is not frequently washed. A single washing, done carelessly, will destroy the luster that careful wash ing has preserved for months.
 Start Cleaning at Top.
 Start in by cleaning the top. Give it good stiff brushing to remove the loose dust, and then either sponge it or use a soft brush with clear tepid water and castle soap. A chamois skin kept especially for the purpose will hasten the drying, and of course the top Is not folded back until 1t is thoroughly dry. About every other time 1t is a good idea to give the in- terior a little more attention than II gets from stiff brushing.
 Go over the leather upholstery with a woolen cloth dipped in clear water to which has been added few drops oe ammonia. If the upholstery is of cloth it can best be cleaned by spong- ing with water containing a little salt and alcohol.
 Now you are ready to use the hose. Be sure to remove the nozzle and flow the water over every part of the body. This serves to wash off as much of the dust as is possible and to loosen the mud or ice or snow, so that with lit tlc patience it can be f1oated off. In cases where the car Is exceptionally dirty it Is well to let it stand 15 min- utes and then shower 1t again.
 Take a soft, clean sponge, and fol- lowing it with a gentle stream from the hose, go lightly over the body. If certain panels are grease-spotted, these should be separately washed with pure water and castle or other neutral soap, but with this one ex- ception: Bar soap, soft soap or soap solution should never be used on the body above the chassis.
 Cleaning the Chassis.
 Grease and road oil collect on the chassis. and their removal requires more vigorous treatment and separate tools. Special brushes will greatly fa- cilitate work in inaccessible corners. The caustic action of an alkali soap ia necessary for the removal of grease or the chassis, but even when used here it is advisable to employ it in the form of soap solution made by dis solving pound of soap in gallon of warm water. The soap is, of course, rinSed off, and hard stream may be used on the chassis to advantage, but it should not be directed against the