Your car has probably spent weeks in the garage gathering dust. Now that the strict lockdown restrictions are slowly being downgraded, it’s time to make it sparkle again before you journey with it into the great outdoors. Having a clean car is almost like having a new car, and it’s just so much nicer to drive around in.
Pieter Niemand, National Director of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), the largest trade association under the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), said dirt and dust can settle in so many out of the way places, especially when a car’s been sitting idle for some time. A dirty car doesn’t look great, but the bigger problem is that a layer of grime on your vehicle can damage the finish, and make it wear down faster than it should, resulting in rust and other issues.
“Ideally owners should wash their cars once a week,” said Niemand. “Along with regular maintenance, it helps maintain resale value more than people realise.”
So, before you take your vehicle on that long-awaited post-lockdown spin, consider giving it a home valet by following these 20 easy steps:
1. Remove any rubbish from inside the vehicle – slide seats forward and remove floor mats to ensure you don’t miss any hidden wrappers.
2. Using a dry paintbrush, dust the vents of the air conditioner or fan, and suck up the dust as you brush with a handheld vacuum cleaner to prevent it settling elsewhere in the vehicle.
3. Clean all the knobs and buttons on the dashboard and doors with the brush and vacuum cleaner.
4. If you’re handy, remove the cabin air filter and replace it with a new one. This should be done about once a year, because if it’s clogged, it can affect the efficiency of your vehicle’s heating and cooling systems. It’s a fairly easy DIY task, and is usually accessed by removing the cubbyhole or glove box. Consult your car’s manual for details on this.
5. Use a pencil eraser to gently scrub any sticky patches off vinyl or leather.
6. Scrub any dirt off vinyl with an old toothbrush and diluted dishwashing liquid.
7. Polish the hard plastic on your vehicle with a little olive oil on a paper towel. Use the same to wipe down the dashboard and cup holders for a shiny, odour-free result.
8. Using a spray bottle of water and a squeegee, collect any pet hair from the upholstery and then vacuum up the clumps of fur afterwards.
9. Using a toothbrush, remove crumbs and dirt from the seams of the seat cushions and vacuum them up.
10. Clean the upholstery in the car with an all-purpose cleaner, a scrubbing brush and a sponge. Avoid drenching the fabric by dipping the brush in the cleaning solution and scrubbing out stains. Spray with linen spray once you’re done to ensure your car smells fresh.
11. Clean child car seats by using the same technique as above, and use a toothbrush to reach any tricky corners.
12. Apply stain remover to stains on floor mats and wash them in the washing machine, or scrub them with upholstery cleaner as above, and air-dry.
13. Hang an air freshener in your car to keep it smelling fresh (or make your own with bicarbonate of soda and essential oils in a bag).
14. Wash the outside of your vehicle with car soap and warm water, using a sponge. Baby shampoo will also do, but do not use dishwashing liquid as it can damage the finish.
15. Clean the windshield with steel wool and glass cleaner or vinegar. Surprisingly, using fine steel wool on glass surfaces (like windshields) is a trick of the automotive trade. The steel wool doesn’t scratch your glass and works great for removing any tough stains like bugs, water spots, pine sap, or other unmentionables.
16. Clean the windows with glass cleaner or vinegar – and remember to roll them down to ensure you clean the grime from the tops too.
17. Wipe windshield wipers with rubbing alcohol – this will prevent them making smears on the windscreen.
18. Mix bicarbonate of soda with warm water and use to remove stubborn bug stains from the grille and bumper.
19. Shine the headlights with toothpaste and water.
20. Use wheel cleaner or vinegar and a brush to clean the car’s wheels, rubbing dry with a sponge or towel to polish the aluminium rims.
Your car will look and feel so much more pleasant when it’s been cleaned properly, and you’ll want to spend time in it. Now the next step is to wait for the green light from government to take your clean car out for a spin!
