Everyone can remember how shiny their vehicle first was when they bought it. The feel and smell of a new car are something that nothing can beat. A car is not just a necessity, but also a luxury. It is your duty to keep your car as clean as possible so that it looks good. You should also take it for routine service and maintenance to ensure that it stays in tip-top condition.
Every driver should already know the basics, waxing and washing your car goes a long way in helping maintain the quality of the car’s paint. There is a lot more than you can do in order to keep your car in perfect shape. A well-maintained vehicle will give you a better resale value than a car that has not been looked after. Moreover, a clean car is definitely bound to lift your mood along with enhancing your driving experience altogether.
There are a lot of materials that you can use in order to keep your cars clean such as dashboard cleaner, microfiber cloth, interior cleaner, anti-germ foams, and a lot more. There are a lot of options available which can be quite overwhelming for most of us. We have curated a list of expert tips to help you keep your car looking good as new.
Prevention goes a long way
You must have already heard the saying that prevention is better than cure. Just an ounce of regular care will keep your car looking perfect. This is why preemptive maintenance is probably one of the most important ways to keep your car in shape. There are a lot of waterless-wash products and spray-on detailers available that have made life easy.
A detailing expert, Mike Stopps, owns a 1975 Alfa Romeo Spyder. His vintage car still looks as good as new because he performs preemptive maintenance on his classic car. He uses a waterless wash product after every drive and then wipes it off. It just takes ten minutes but goes a long way in prevention. Exactly this way, a little effort will save you a ton of tedious work later.
Taking care of the interior
Taking care of the interior, especially in an open car is quite important. A lot of convertibles tend to accumulate a ton of grime that can damage the paint of your car on the interior surfaces as well. You can get an interior spray detailer that works well with vinyl and leather seating surfaces. There are a lot of abrasive particles that can get collected over time. It is vital that you wipe this dust away regularly in order to prevent damage.
Use a vacuum cleaner
If you want an accessory that you can use on the go and can make your car look instantly tidy from the inside, a handy vacuum cleaner is a must. This cleaning accessory is a great investment. A lot of cleaning experts say that a vacuum is a great way of removing dirt and dust from your car. It is important to remember though, that if you want a completely clean car that is free of dirt and grime, there are a few more steps that you need to take.
Just waxing is not enough
A lot of people believe that a fresh coat of wax is perfectly enough for keeping their car in prime condition. You would be surprised to know that the thing that gives off that real high-quality finish and shines on a car is not wax. It is vital that you do some much-needed prep work to get that rich finish.
For example, if the paint done on your house is peeling off due to decay and bad wood, just painting it from the top will not give you good results. You need to prepare the surface in order to ensure that you get the best results. Your paint needs to be free of any contaminants in order to make it really shine and be properly polished. Spreading wax on a dirty surface won’t get you what you are looking for.
Avoid streaky glass
It is quite easy to tell which sides of your windows are streaked and which ones do not need that much attention. Get a fresh microfiber towel in order to clean your glass. Fold them into quarters, spray the cleaning solution on one section, then buff the glass in order to remove dust and dirt. After this, you can use the dry side of the towel to help you finish the job.
Get a clay bar
If you want a lustrous and slick finish, the best thing to invest in is a clay bar. These have been around since the 1980s and have been a great addition to car cleaning accessories, but not a lot of drivers know about them. These bars have the ability to easily and quickly strip off dirt, grit, and other above-surface contaminants that can damage your car.
Even if these have bonded with the pain, clay bars can help remove them. You might think that you do not need one, but the next time you clean your car and feel that it is rough from the outside, it is probably time to invest in a clay bar.
Get rid of bird droppings ASAP
You might not believe in the gravity of this situation, but bird droppings are actually quite dangerous for your car. If you wait for a very long time to remove them, they can actually get etched in your paint and ruin the finishing of your car. Just letting that bird dropping sit on your car for even a couple of hours can cause quite a lot of damage.
This is something that will take a lot of work to deal with. We recommend keeping a bottle of quick-detail spray with you, along with a couple of microfiber cloths so that you can clean this mess up as soon as you see them.
Taking care of your car is not just a job, it is an art. You need to do certain things perfectly in order to ensure that your car stays in prime condition.
