Tips For A Spotless Ride

There’s an art to cleaning your car properly and you don’t want a few common mistakes to undo all your good work. So follow these expert tips for cleaning both the interior and exterior, using the right products, and being aware of the essential do's and don'ts for keeping your ride looking pristine and running smoothly.

Keeping your car clean isn’t just about looking good on the road. It’s about maintaining your vehicle so it runs smoothly and safely for longer and preserves its value.

And let’s face it – looking good on the road counts too. What’s not to like about streak-free windows, gleaming hubcaps, sun glinting off a seamless paint job?

Avoid common mistakes with this DIY car cleaning guide so that every time you get behind the wheel it feels like the first time.

Selecting the best car-cleaning products

It’s tempting to use your regular kitchen detergent and sprays to clean both the interior and exterior of your car. Don’t! They’ll end up damaging your car’s surfaces. Instead, create a car wash kit that has specialty car care products to keep the paint job slick, the interior leather and vinyl conditioned, and the wheels free from stubborn grime.

Some great eco-friendly options will do the job without harmful pollutants washing down the drain. And while you’re at it, ditch the old T-shirt you use as a rag and replace it with carwash mitts, sponge or a chamois to avoid fine scratches and swirl marks.

The best time for car cleaning

Under the blazing sun in the middle of the day is not the right time. The water will evaporate faster, leaving watermarks and soap scum on your vehicle. Try instead for an early morning or late afternoon cleaning session or, if you can, park in a shady spot. You will also minimise the chance of sunburn.

Plan your order of attack - interior first, then exterior

For an interior tidy you’ll need a garbage bag for rubbish and debris, a dust brush to get rid of sand, a microfibre cloth for wiping down the dashboard and console, and a vacuum to get rid of dust and dirt. Be sure to recline the car seats and shift them forward and back so you can reach every nook and cranny and take out the floor mats for a good shake. Finally, wash the windows inside and out with a foam glass cleaner and microfibre cloth.

Now move on to the exterior, and start with the tyres which are likely to be the grubbiest part. An old toothbrush is perfect for getting between the wheel spokes. Then comes the fun part – don your mitts and lather up the body of the car using an auto-specific soap. You will need two buckets: one for the soap dilution and one for clean water to rinse your mitts as you go.

Give a thorough and final rinse-off before drying with a chamois, always working from top to bottom. And if you’re using wax, don’t overdo it. A thin layer is all you need.

Use the opportunity to do a maintenance check

With your car looking this good, you want to be able to hit the road, so while you’re up close and personal with your ride, give the fundamentals a once over. Do an oil check and, check and change all other fluids. Measure your tyre pressure (don’t forget your spare) and check the wear and tear on your tyres with a tyre tread depth check. Make sure your headlights, breaklights and indicators are working. Finally, check your battery and clean off any mineral buildup with a brush.