Spring Car Cleaning with the Car Coach
by Lauren Fix, The Car Coach™
Your Life! Auto Advisor
People are keeping their cars for longer periods of time. Whether it's to keep their payments lower or just keeping your vehicle longer due to the economy. There are more cars than ever on the road that are over 10 years old. This shows that cars are lasting longer and people are keeping them longer too. No matter what everyone wants their ride to look good!
The exteriors of our cars need to be protected, so they can keep up with your strategy. Protecting the exterior only takes a little time every few weeks, and it can be a fun family project. Remember spraying the hose at each other. The other benefit is that you can conserve money and guard that investment.
Professional detailing can cost anywhere from $55 for a wax to $100 for full detailing.
Here are some "Car Smarts Tips for shielding the outside of your car this spring. Let's start with 4 W'S for spring-cleaning your car: WASH, WIPE, WAX, and WHEELS.
1. Use a mild commercial car wash that is safe for all paint types and brings out natural luster. Never use dish soap as is will strip down then existing waxes and dull the paint. Remember, not all soaps are safe for your car's exterior.
2. Remove all water from your car's surface. To save time, use the Original California Water Blade. It dries the vehicle in 1/3 the time of a towel or chamois and doesn't leave any spotting or lint behind. The blade's patented T-Bar and silicone composition allows it to mold to your car's exterior and has 15 times less friction than a towel quick and effective. Best of all - no sloppy towels to clean up later.
3. Next, apply a coat of wax. I prefer a carnauba synthetic wax, because it protects against acid rain, water spots, grime, dirt; can even be used in sunlight; you can really see the difference after using a good quality wax.
4. For wheels, I recommend a wheel cleaner made from a non-corrosive formula, which can be used on all wheel types, even aluminum. It protects against brake dust buildup and road dirt. For your tires, use tire shine it will protect the tires through three rainstorms and doesn't need to be applied as often and they look nicer this way too.
These new premium products are from the Prestone Protective Series and are specifically made to protect your car's exterior.
And here's an easy way to keep your car clean between washes - an Original California Car Duster. Show car people have been using these for years; I've had mine since the 80's. It's made of cotton strands are treated with a special treatment that "lifts dust from surfaces rather than pushing it aside. The neat part of this duster as the more you use it the better it gets. It's a quick way to keep your ride looking great and it won't scratch the exterior and it restores the original shine.
Don't forget the inside of your car or truck!
Protect your car's interior using these easy steps.
1. Start by thoroughly vacuuming your car's upholstery and carpeting and cleaning the windows with a quality glass cleaner. Tip: use newspaper instead of paper towels to clean your window - they will shine.
2. Once clean, protect the carpet and upholstery to keep its fabric clean. This is a great time to apply a product that will help repel spills and stains. I use Scotchgard Protector for Automotive Upholstery; it's the best protector because it will not change the look or feel of automotive fabrics. Other products haven't performed as well. Remember to keep napkins or paper towels in your glove compartment to blot up those accidental spills.
3. Finally, to really eliminate those nasty odors, don't just cover up them with perfumes or the little scented ornaments. Instead look for something that will penetrate the fabric in your car and eliminate odors at their source. Febreze Auto does the trick, it's similar to what we use in our homes, but it's specifically formulated for automobile usage and is safe for use around pets and children. It doesn't just eliminate odors but it can be used regularly to keep your car smelling fresh air clean.
This is the time to roll down your windows and enjoy your vehicle. Just be prepared for those ice cream cones and summer vacations.
