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 squeaky-clean car around town.

1. Wash at home.

Car washing is the only way for your car to get nice and shiny, so why not try washing it yourself, at home? With automated car washing, you can have the car cleaned while getting your nails done, but that will cost you.

Park the car in a shaded area and then wash it down using a hose. Start with the roof, work your way down the sides, and then to the tires. Afterwards, scrub the car with a sponge dipped in water and mild liquid soap. Rinse and repeat if necessary.

2. Take advantage of car washes.

You can drive to an automated car wash service to get your car cleaned up if you can’t be bothered to do it at home. It’s going to cost you, that’s for sure, so make sure to compare pros and cons before you go.

The good thing about automated or drive-through car wash services is they make the experience of owning a car hassle-free. You no longer have to worry about bird droppings or liquid stains or anything of the sort – simply drive over to the nearest car wash, pay for the cleaning, and drive through.

3. Tidy inside out.

The purpose of car cleaning is to prevent the car from wearing out, but there’s more to it than that. It is also about feeling good when you’re inside the car, not itchy and grimy because somebody didn’t clean the interior.

First rule of thumb is to check the seats. Bits of food and other small particles tend to get stuck between the cushions, so check those areas often. Then, sweep the floor of small stones and dirt that found their way into the car. Just remember to clean out the seats first before doing the floor and not the other way around – otherwise, you’ll need to do the floor again.

4. Use car seat covers.

One of the toughest things about owning a car is taking out the seats to have them washed. It’s a tedious job and it gets worse every time. In addition, it’s impossible not to dirty the seats, especially with children. You really need to start thinking about investing in seat covers.

With seat covers, you simply remove the covers if you have to get them washed and cleaned up. The seats remain intact. These covers protect the seats from stains and dust and all sorts of fabric damage. It doesn’t get any better than this. Seat covers will change the way you see your car.

5. Keep a trash can nearby.

A trash can inside the car will save you a lot of time and effort by significantly reducing the need for you to clean up every now and then. Some people have the habit of just dropping their garbage – a candy wrapper, a plastic bag, crumpled paper – anywhere if they can’t find a trash can nearby. Don’t let that “anywhere” be your car. Keep a small trash can behind either the driver’s seat or the passenger’s seat and save your car from smelling like the pits.

With each of these five tips, it should be no problem to keep your car clean. Remember, cleaning it a bit at a time, and often, will be a lot easier on you than leaving it for weeks (or months!) only to have to spend an entire weekend dealing with a large mess.