Automotive Cleaning Tips – Car Talk
It doesn’t have to be difficult to keep your car clean and tidy. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be proud to drive your shiny car around town.
1. Wash at home.
Car washing is the only way to keep your car looking nice and shiny, so why not try washing it yourself at home? With the automatic car wash, you can clean the car while doing your nails, but that will cost you.
Park the car in a shady area and then wash it down with a hose. Start with the roof, work your way down the sides, and then toward the wheels. Then, scrub the car with a sponge dipped in mild liquid soap and water. Rinse and repeat if necessary.
2. Take advantage of car washes.
You can drive to an automated car wash service to clean your car if you can’t be bothered to do it at home. It’s going to cost you, that’s for sure, so make sure you weigh the pros and cons before you go.
The great thing about automated or self-service car wash services is that they make the car ownership experience easy. You no longer have to worry about bird droppings or liquid stains or anything like that – just drive to the nearest car wash, pay for the cleaning and drive away.
3. Order inside and out.
The purpose of car cleaning is to prevent wear and tear on the car, but there is more to it than that. It’s also about feeling good when you’re inside the car, not itchy or dirty because someone didn’t clean the interior.
The first rule of thumb is to check the seats. Food bits and other small particles tend to get stuck between the cushions, so check those areas often. Next, sweep the floor to remove any small stones and debris that have made their way into the car. Just remember to clean the seats first before doing the floor and not the other way around; otherwise you will need to redo the floor.
4. Use car seat covers.
One of the hardest things about owning a car is taking the seats out to wash them. It’s tedious work and it’s getting worse. In addition, it is impossible not to dirty the seats, especially with children. You really need to start thinking about investing in seat covers.
With seat covers, simply remove the covers if you have to wash and clean them. The seats remain intact. These covers protect seats from stains, dust and all types of fabric damage. There is nothing better than this. Seat covers will change the way you see your car.
5. Keep a trash can nearby.
An in-car trash can will save you a lot of time and effort by significantly reducing the need for occasional cleaning. Some people are in the habit of just dumping their trash (a candy wrapper, a plastic bag, crumpled paper) anywhere if they can’t find a trash can nearby. Don’t let “anywhere” be your car. Keep a small trash can behind the driver’s seat or passenger seat and prevent your car from smelling like pit pits.
With each of these five tips, keeping your car clean shouldn’t be a problem. Remember, cleaning it little by little, and often, will be much easier for you than leaving it for weeks (or months!) only to have to spend an entire weekend dealing with a huge mess.