Cleaning your car and achieving that perfect glossy shine and new-car smell can be either a chore or a relaxing task for a sunny afternoon - it all depends on your approach. Of course, you’ll need to prepare the main bits - two big buckets of water, car shampoo, hoover and a cloth to dry it at the end. But there are some additional steps, tips and tricks you can utilise to make sure your car looks like you just got it from the showroom.
For a gleaming bonnet and refreshingly-clean interior, a simple car wash just won’t be enough. For the real car-lovers and perfectionists out there we’ve put together the top car-cleaning tips from our team of professionals.
1. Always start on the inside
Don’t make the mistake of washing and polishing your entire car’s surface, if you’ll then open the doors to find you still have last month’s crumbs on the mats. Start by removing any rubbish you can see, then take out the mats to hoover and wash them. Hoover the entire car, and don’t forget to wipe the dashboard to remove grime and grease marks. Only place the mats back in the car when they have dried out completely (you can do this at the end).
2. Refresh your car with compressed air
Nothing smells better than a brand new car. And with our specialist car cleaning tip, you can keep that refreshing luxurious scent for longer to delight your passengers. Instead of masking the smell with car air freshener, use compressed air to clean your air vents, which will probably have a build-up of dust and grime. The compressed air will remove the causes of the stale smell, such as growing bacteria, and help your car feel freshers. Make sure you do that before you’ve hoovered your entire car though, as all that dust will naturally have to go somewhere.
3. Don’t forget to clean the top of the windows
Washing and wiping the car’s windows is an integral part of cleaning the car. We wash them inside and out, yet often we forget that they also slide down. To avoid annoying smears on your crystal-clear windows, remember to wind them down a couple of inches and clean the top part too. This way you’ll ensure all the grime, debris and cleaning product has been successfully removed.
4. Shampoo the car every two weeks
This car cleaning tip might seem excessive to some but real car lovers know that to keep your car in top condition, keep the paintwork shining and prevent rusting, you need to be dedicated. If you shampoo your car regularly you’ll be able to keep it gleaming without investing too much time into it. Just make sure to use a two-in-one car shampoo including wax to protect the coating of the paintwork.
5. Wash from top to bottom
While it might seem obvious, you will be surprised to find out how many people do not have a specific direction when it comes to washing the car. Make gravity your friend, and start from the top, allowing the dirt to slide down, so you don’t have to go over parts twice. Remember to always use two buckets, so you don’t mix your clean water with the already dirty one.
6. Dry using a microfiber cloth
Using the wrong drying cloth can do some real damage to the surface of your car. Our top tip is to use a microfiber towel, which will absorb and remove any residue while leaving the surface smooth and dry.
7. Use polish to remove swirl marks
A common misconception when cleaning your car is that you should use wax to remove the fine scratches on the surface of your car, which appear if you use the wrong cloth or sponge. These are also known as swirl marks and due to the fine nature of the scratch wax, this will not be your best friend if you want to remove it. Our professional tip here is to swap the wax for a high-quality car polish.
8. Choose a dual-action polisher
Polishing your car is what will really give it that brand-new look, and will make heads turn. This is why we recommend investing in a dual-action polisher, which can iron out any abrasions as well as remove old wax with ease. This professional tool will really add the finishing touch to your car-cleaning technique.
As much as we love our trusted car, there comes a time when cleaning and polishing it just won’t be able to give it that brand-new shine. If the time has come to look for a new model, here at Nationwide Cars we deliver out customers free and impartial advice to ensure you choose the perfect new car. Contact us today and we can help you to find the ideal car that suits all your needs.
