Tips To Keep Your Car Looking Like New

Washing your vehicle on a regular basis is a big step in maintaining its luster. Be careful with the sponge you use. If it is old, it may be filled with grit and grime. Try a microfiber sponge or mitt. Don’t use the same sponge for cleaning the car paint and the wheels. You don’t want to get brake dust on the paint surface. Use a good quality soap designed for vehicles. Before beginning the wash, completely wet the car to loosen and emulsify any dirt. Wash in straight lines, rather than in a circular motion. After scrubbing, perform a good rinse job.  

Try not to let your car dry in the sun after washing. For this reason, it’s best to wash your car in the shade. Did you know that when the water drops evaporate, they may leave dirt behind? After washing, dry it quickly with a good drying towel.  

After a wash, wax your vehicle. Waxing is like a protective shield on the outside. It helps to protect from dirt, dust and water. It will keep your car shiny, guard it from scratches and materials that could deteriorate the finish. Waxing will also keep your car cleaner for a longer time.  

Now it’s time to make the windows and windshield shine. It’s best to use a car glass cleaner. Household cleaners may contain ammonia which can streak and may cause issues with the glass tinting. Apply the cleaner directly on your cloth rather than the vehicle. You don’t want any spray to get on your painted surfaces. Cleaning tip: As you wipe, go up-and-down on either the inside or outside, then wipe side-to-side on the other. This way you can tell where any streaks are.  

What is yucky stuff on your car? Some examples of stuff to remove from your vehicle is tree sap, bird droppings and tar. Some of the substances may contain acids that can hurt the finish.  

You can begin by vacuuming the inside, carpets and upholstery. If you really want to get serious, you can spot treat stains with a carpet shampoo. For other surfaces, use a cleaner specific for car interiors and specific for the type of surface like leather, vinyl and plastic. Apply the cleaning product directly to the towel. Wipe down everything inside-the dash, the console, the door panels, the seats.  

Consider where you park: Be careful if parking under trees. Tree sap and bird droppings are likely to get on your car.
Start from the top: When washing the outside, start on the roof and work your way down. Same goes for rinsing.
Consider a car cover: If you can’t park in a garage or carport, get a car cover. It will protect your vehicle from the sun’s UV rays. Also, a cover can provide a shield from hail, debris flying around in windy conditions and bird droppings.
Use clean sponges and towels: After cleaning your car, wash the sponges and towels you used to keep them clean for the next wash.

Besides your own cleaning, consider using our detailing services. We can clean and polish and bring the shine back to whatever you’re driving. Our detail team is the best at making your car look great, inside and out. They can perform a simple clean all the way up to a complete and thorough deep clean. Check out our menu of detailing services. Then give us a call or schedule your detail online.