It’s spring cleaning time again. Hooray! (Not really.)
Still, it needs to be done; and, shouldn’t you extend a little of that elbow
grease toward making your car shine as well? You absolutely should. Giving your
vehicle a thorough cleaning this time of year will allow you to keep it in tip-top
shape and continue to get the most out of it in terms of performance and
longevity. It won’t take you very long to complete, and your vehicle will love
it; so, time to get cleaning!
Start on the inside. Begin by emptying it of all
unnecessary contents. Toss any trash you find, including those crumpled up cheeseburger
wrappers and empty water bottles rolling around your car floor (psst, they’re
recyclable). You don’t need that many winter jackets piling up in the backseat;
and, it’s probably time to get your snowboard boots out of the trunk as well.
If you don’t NEED it in your car, it’s got to go.
Just by removing all of the unnecessary items from your
car, you’ve already increased your fuel efficiency. Awesome, right? But, you’re not done yet.
Once the big stuff is out of the way, it’s time to get
some microfiber cloths and start dusting everywhere in the interior. Break out
the all-purpose cleaner if there are smudges that a dry cloth alone can’t get
out. You’ll especially need it for those dried up non-fat, half-caf, mocha frap
spills in your cup holder.
Next, grab the vacuum hose attachment and get to work vacuuming
the floors and seats and under the seats. Look, there’s a quarter! You just
made this whole undertaking profitable – sweeeeeet! Don’t gloat too long,
bigshot; you still have to grab the glass cleaner and get busy. Nothing’s more
dangerous than not seeing where you’re driving, so get the inside of those
windows good – and clean your rearview mirror while you’re at it.
At this point, some people like to use some of that polishing
stuff on various inside surfaces, but if you do, keep it off the dashboard as
it can evaporate and make the inside of your windshield turn hazy. Finally, I
like to cap off the interior cleaning section with a nice pine-scented, tree-shaped
air freshener, but this step is entirely up to you.
Now, you’re probably wondering, “Wait, what about the
outside of the vehicle?” Very observant of you. Here’s where I like to take the
easy way out and head on down to the local (cheap) outside-only car wash
machine thingy. Before you go, grab a couple of chamois or similar drying
cloths for after. Upgrade to the wash with the undercarriage option too, as
there could be all kinds of winter crud under your car that you’re not going to
be able to clean with just your garden hose.
Once you put your vehicle through the machine, pull to an
open parking space and start drying all the leftover water drops the blower
missed. While you’re doing this, examine your entire vehicle for any signs of
winter wear. Inspect the tires, weather stripping, and see if any locks or
hinges need lubricant. While you’re at it, poke your head under your vehicle
and see if there’s any rust or other issues that need to be checked out by a
professional.
Depending on when the last time you had your vehicle
waxed, you may want to consider applying a good coat of wax at this point too. However,
I’m going to assume your vehicle doesn’t need it right now, and save that discussion
for another blog post.
Lastly, run through your (mental or actual) checklist,
and make sure your vehicle has a clean air filter, useable wiper blades (winter
can be rough on them), full fluid levels, and a recent oil change. All good? Nice!
Then you’re finished and ready to cruise around for another few months (before
it’s time for a Summer Car Check).
As always, if you have any questions about vehicle
maintenance, stop by or call. We have a team of service professionals willing
and happy to help you keep your vehicle looking and running great.
