The ultimate key to retaining the quality of a vehicle and keep it functioning in optimal performance is to conduct frequent maintenance efforts. That includes cleaning your car every now and then. Especially when used daily, a car can be exposed to environmental stressors like dirt and dust. The interior can also get pretty dirty.
Car washes are just part of the expenses that car owners have to make in order to maintain their vehicles. But you can actually clean your car on your own. If you want to DIY your car’s deep cleaning, here’s your step-by-step guide.
Get the right soap
Some car owners opt to wash their cars with a regular dish or laundry soap. After all, they’re very effective in getting rid of stains, mud, and other dirt on the vehicle. But these regular soaps, because they’re not made for vehicle use, can also get rid of important oils on the car’s exterior paint. In the long run, it can cause damage and wear on the vehicle’s exterior.
To keep the quality of the car’s finish fresh even after a long time, it’s ideal to use a soap that’s specifically made for vehicles. These contain the necessary oils and chemicals that will help retain the paint on the car. Mix the right amount of soap with water and prepare another pail with clean water for rinsing.
Polish and wax the finish
After you’ve soaped your car and got rid of all the stains, mud, and grease, it may look as good as new. But to make the paint glossier, you can polish and wax the vehicle. Get a good polish liquid and wax and gently apply it across the exterior.
Vacuum the interior
The car’s interior is probably the trickiest part to clean. It may not seem like it, but there’s bound to be accumulated dust and dirt in hard-to-reach areas. The first thing you want to do is to vacuum the interior to suck out all the debris. Work your way through all corners, starting from the top to the bottom.
Don’t forget to move your car seats and reach way underneath them for any dirt. You’ll be surprised by what you find there. Look into your car door pockets as well and clean out those areas too.
Wash the carpet
There’s nothing that will clean your interior more than a good wash. Take out your carpets and toss them in the washer to make sure you get rid of all the dust particles. You can also opt to hand wash them for better cleaning.
Wipe the interior
To give your interior a deep clean, take a car cleaning spray and a clean rag. Spray all the areas of your car, from the dashboard and steering wheel to your leather seats. Wipe the spray dry with your rag. Make sure to get all nooks and crannies, as well as hard-to-reach areas where dirt and dust can easily accumulate.
In undertaking this step, many car owners neglect to clean the windows. But if you roll down your windows and look at the top edges, you’ll notice how dirty they can get. Spray all edges of the windows and windshield with the cleaner and wipe dry with the rag. If there’s any damage on your windshield, it’s best to get it repaired immediately.
Spray the interior with an air freshener
Over time, cars can develop a stench, but spraying the interior with an air freshener can easily neutralize the smell inside the vehicle. Hold the spray can 12 to 14 inches away from surfaces and lightly spray the mist out. Afterwards, turn the fan to high and switch the conditioning system to recirculate mode.
Cleaning a car doesn’t need to cost you a lot of money. You can DIY it with these simple steps.
