Do's & Don'ts For Keeping Your Car Clean

Even today, owning a car is no less than a dream come true for us Indians. And just like realizing the dream is not the end, but preserving and cherishing it for long holds the key. Similarly, possessing a car is work half done.

You also need cleaning of your vehicle at regular intervals beside the regular mechanical upkeep. A clean tuxedo reflects your persona, same way a clean and sparkling car mirrors your sincerity towards your ‘four-wheeled’ family member. And the best part is you can clean your car at home.

Cleansing is not merely mopping the dust off your car or pressure wash. There is more to it.

In this article, you will get to know how you can clean the car without ruining the paint and other parts of the car.

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So let’s learn some do’s and don’ts that apply while cleaning your car. We will start with exteriors first.

Don’t go for long gaps between washes. Because, longer the period, the accumulation of dirt, bird droppings, and other stains will take more time and effort to remove. And in the process may also weaken the car’s paint resulting in early damage to car paint.

Do wash with car liquid soap and water. Instead of using dish soap, use car cleaning liquid soap. The use of household dish soap may have adverse effects on the car paint. And it has been proven many times earlier that continuous use of dish soap often leads to irreparable results. Dish soap has harsh detergents to cut utensil grease and can cause premature fading of the paint or rust.

Car cleaning supplies are easily available at any departmental store, grocery chain or any local automobile market shops. You can also opt for car washing kits online. In case you are in a hurry and a car wash is needed badly, be on the safer side, go for a water-only wash.

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Don’t wash every day. According to the professionals, be it a motorcycle or car, the daily wash of the vehicle may lead to early corrosion and paint damage. Therefore, a wash every 1-3 weeks and waxing every three months is recommended.

Do get car cleaning items at one place before a car wash. Equipment like a bucket, mug, sponges, soft brushes will be used for cleansing. While dry towels, squeegees or blowers will apply for drying the exterior of the car.

Don’t wash your car under the sun. Washing under direct sunlight or just after you have come from a long day trip or even when the paint finish is hot, is not advisable. Extreme temperatures lead to instant drying of the liquids leaving behind spots, stains and mineral deposits on the paint.

Do ensure you have rinsed the car completely. And no streaks or marks left behind on the car after the wash.

Don’t use the cloth that you have used to clean the tyres and wheels. Using the same dirt-filled cloth on the outer shell of the car will scratch the exterior paint. Thus, using a clean soft cloth is recommended.

Do start from the bottom. Start with the cleaning of wheels and tyres. Clean one section of the body at a time and work from top to down. Instead of cleaning in circular motions, which may leave behind swirl markings, wipe in back and forth motion.

Don’t abandon the concealed areas, like the doors and trunk jambs of the vehicle. Above the bonnet get rid of the leaves and debris found beneath the windshield.

Now let’s have a look at some do’s and don’ts tips for car interior cleaning:

Do care for your carpets and upholstery inside the cabin. Before using any cleaning product, go through the car manual for instructions on how to clean and maintain your car’s carpet, trim and upholstery.

Do use soft brushes and a vacuum to wipe the AC dust. Heater and air-conditioner vents should be cleaned with detailing brushes, a vacuum can also be a good option for thorough and deep cleaning of the dirt settled inside the air-conditioner.

Don’t ignore stains. Besides vacuum and wiping of all inside surfaces, look closely for stains or spots on the seat fabric upholstery. Treat them right away.

Do clean down the rubber mats. The easiest way is to take all the floor mats and shake them to get rid of small particles and debris. You can even wash them with water, let them dry and place them back again.

Don’t forget to clean the windows from inside. Just like outside, cleaning of all glass surfaces from inside of your car is also important. Look for smudges and fingerprints in the back glass of the windows and wipe it.

Do check for wrappers, small bottles, paper pieces, waste paper/plastic pouches, etc., on the floor, inside the cup holders and back-seat pockets of the car. Clean the window buttons and handles using a soft damp cloth.

Do use a vacuum to clean the glove compartment and the console. Clean the mobile holder, cup/bottle holder and leftovers spilt in these storage areas.

Do keep a trash can inside. With trash can in the cabin, there won’t be any littering around. Keep the small dustbin at a dedicated corner and throw every useless bit into it. So that henceforth, you don’t have to search for wrappers and paper pouches in and around the cup holders and back seat pockets.

Don’t get into the cabin with messy shoes/slippers. Make a rule for all the family members, especially kids. If the shoes are filled with mud, dirt, etc. they should be brushed off outside the cabin.

Following these quick car cleaning tips, you can keep your companion ever fresh and new for long. Also, it will help you preserve your car in good condition and owing to its better upkeep inside-out, who knows, you may fetch better resale value too in future.

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