Exterior Cleaning Care
It's essential to take care of your car's exterior, especially here in Ohio, after a long winter season. The dirt and grime can cause your car to rust and deteriorate. It's also important to consider what the right products to clean the outside of your car, otherwise, you run the risk of scratching it or putting unwanted marks on the body. Follow some of these recommend tips when you start the washing process.
How To Wash Like A Pro
- Pick A Spot In The Shade- If you wash your car in direct sunlight, your car dries way too quickly, and then you'll end up with water spots and extra work. Your cleaning mixture will also dry before you can rinse it.
- Always Rinse First- this saves you time from having to wash your car twice by removing any noticeable grime with a quick rinse.
- Clean your tires first one at a time, then work your way from the top to the bottom. This method ensures nothing dries too quickly on you. Try to rinse often if it's a hot day also, and you'll avoid needing to wash an area twice.
- Use a recommended cleaning solution, not dish detergent that can cause damage to your paint.
- Once you have washed your car, use a microfiber cloth and dry it in straight lines. Fold the fabric as necessary in a square-pattern to utilize all portions.
- Use a good wax once finished to keep your car shining and protect the exterior.
Other Tips For Cleaning Your Car's Exterior
Once you've cleaned the exterior, you can now tackle your headlights. Over time, the sun's UV rays will start to make the headlights appear yellowish and dull. You can either pick up your restoration kit, or you can use toothpaste. If you're trying the latter method, apply a quarter-sized amount of a whitening brand with baking soda and let it sit for fifteen to twenty minutes. Then, just rinse and rub off with a towel. Another common problem car owners run into is those dreaded bugs splattering on their car. They can seem impossible to get off! Try using a dryer sheet soaked in warm water and wipe away. You'll be surprised how well it works.
How To Clean The Inside
Mother Nature batters your vehicle's exterior, but that doesn't mean the inside can't take a beating. Your car's interior is susceptible to fading, cracking dashboards, and worn seats, whether they're made of cloth or leather. It's always a great idea to have your items organized and purge unnecessary things to prevent unnecessary clutter on your floor. Vacuum out your car, either your own or go to a place that has the attachments you need. Remove the car seats and get in between cracks and under the seats.
Some More Tips For Cleaning The Interior
Apply your cleaning solution on your microfiber cloth and wipe all areas around your dashboard, the steering wheel, and compartments. You can remove stains from cloth material with a solution of baking soda and vinegar.
*Bonus Tip: Don't wait to clean any stains you notice. It's best to clean them right away to make, and you'll find it's much easier! If you have leather seats, you'll need to use a special cleaner that can help prevent cracks and restore the material. Finally, if your trunk looks like a smaller version of a landfill, considering removing as many items as possible and donating them to your local thrift store. Less weight in your vehicle will help improve fuel efficiency as well.
Keeping your car clean will make it look great, but it's essential to keep it lasting longer as well. While cleaning the inside and outside might not be the most intricate maintenance plan for your vehicle, you should not underestimate the importance. If you forgo keeping your car clean inside and out, you'll have expensive repairs to pay for that could have been prevented. A clean car makes you feel great too, and it's something to show off when you've put a lot of hard work into it.
Our team from Glockner Toyota hopes you've enjoyed reading about some of our favorite car cleaning tips. Use them at your leisure, and if you need any accessories to help you along the way, don't hesitate to get in touch with us today or stop by and see us. We look forward to seeing your clean car at our location!
