Spring Cleaning Tips For Your Car

Sunny days are upon us! It’s a news season once again to start fresh and free our lives from the cobwebs of the past winter days. This means rolling up your sleeves and tackling the task of spring cleaning your homes, offices, and your cars.

Get rid of the winter mess inside and outside of your car and have it looking new as the sun warms up. Be sure to have them ready for the much-anticipated driving season with these car spring cleaning tips:

Cleaning the Console

Wash the consoles carefully. Avoid getting electrical connections wet but do wipe them down appropriately.

Clean out cup holders, too. Use a wet cloth to get the top of the dashboard but be careful to dry it thoroughly.

Carpeting and Upholstery

The upholstery in any vehicle needs regular cleaning to keep it in good condition. Drink spills and ground-in crumbs often are the culprits behind stained seat fabric. The best way to treat this type of fabric is to do so as you would a fabric-covered couch. Avoid saturating it with water. Use only approved chemicals to clean it.

The following tips will help you to clean most car upholstery surfaces properly:

Use a soft bristle brush on the seats. Brush the seats off to remove any loose debris. This will also help the small fabric fibres to stand up. Which will allow for better cleaning.

Use a vacuum with an attachment hose to remove all the debris. Be sure to get into the cracks and crevices properly. Some vacuum attachments have small hoses that fit between seats and into pockets.

Notice any stains on the fabric. Try to determine the cause of the stain, such as food or ground-in dirt from shoes. Then, choose an appropriate fabric stain remover that works on that type of stain. Choose a fabric cleaner specifically designed for car upholstery. Follow the directions provided by the cleaner's manufacturer.

Test the fabric cleaner on a hidden area of the seat before applying to other areas. This is particularly important for degreaser-type cleaners because the chemicals within these can cause staining or damage.

For areas without stains that are dirty, use a damp cloth on the surface. Avoid rubbing the stain too forcefully because this forces the stain further into the fabric. Instead, wipe the area in a sliding motion, forcing the dirt off the fabric.

Also, try to keep the windows and doors of the vehicle open to ensure any wet areas can dry out properly. If the seats do not dry properly, this can lead to mould build-up.

Remove All The Trash and Organise

Free your car from clutter by removing unwanted trash such as empty cups and food wrappers. Organise every item inside your car and put them in their respective storage places. Look for stuff you don’t need and take them out instead of adding clutter in your car.

Wash Your Wheels

Your wheels had it rough during the winter days so give it a much-needed washing. Scrub them good but be careful with the products you’re using. Stay away from harsh chemicals to avoid damaging your tires. Use a good, stiff brush to scrub off all the accumulated dirt and rinse them thoroughly.

Additional tip; this might be a good time also to check its pressure and tighten up any loose lug nuts to ensure your tires are in great shape. 

Hand Wash The Exteriors

Look at the exterior of the car. A good car washing is often in order.

Hand washing your car’s exterior is the best spring-cleaning care option to achieve that gleaming and shiny new look. Make sure the first spring car wash is a thorough one that gets the winter grime out of cracks and under the edges. Opt for a carwash solution instead of household soap as it gives more professional shine to your car’s paint. Gently wash every detail from top to bottom and make sure to clean under the edges too. After washing, give it a thorough rinse and remove excess water using a rubber squeegee. Removing the water instead of letting it air dry allows you to get rid of potential minerals or dirt that water may leave.

Waxing

Waxing the exterior of the car is a good idea, as long as you do so out of direct sunlight. Choose a spray or liquid wax for the best results. If you are using a new product, test it on a hidden portion of the car's body to ensure it works properly.

Shine The Windows

Shine the windows. After all that winter driving, the windows will need a bit of extra attention. When cleaning the windows, use a microfiber cloth to attain a blemish-free clean. Clean the inside and outside using a mild window cleaner. Roll it down and remove the grime and dirt that have accumulated at the top of your windows. The same cleaning principle also applies to your car’s mirrors.

Under the Hood

Look under the hood next. Leaves, debris and even dirt can get into the engine area. In some cases, just wiping down the edges is enough. In other cases, you may need to consider having the engine wiped off or professionally cleaned.

The Trunk

Check the trunk of the vehicle next. Clean out the wintertime mess. This is also a good time to make sure the spare tire is in good repair. Be sure your emergency kit is in order too.

Replace Wipers

After a harsh winter, many vehicles require new windshield wipers. Having wipers in good working order is necessary, especially during intense spring showers. 

Take an afternoon to detail clean the car. Doing so will make sure the vehicle is in the best condition possible for the upcoming summer months.

Maintenance Considerations

While these ten tips for spring cleaning are important, springtime also brings the need for maintenance and tune-ups. Focus on the following areas:

• Get the oil changed as needed.
• Tune-up the engine to ensure it is working at its best. This includes having belts checked.
• Have the air conditioning tested.
• Be sure all lighting systems, both on the exterior and interior of the car, are working properly.
• Replace tires if they no longer hold air properly.

Tips for Cleaning Success

• Keeping the interior of a vehicle clean maintains the vehicle's value. Regularly cleaning it will help to avoid bigger problems with ground-in material. Consider the following tips to make the process easier:
• Avoid eating or drinking in the vehicle. This is one of the biggest risks to the upholstery since the sugars and fats in the food can stain the fabric.
• Notice when the vehicle needs cleaning and avoid putting it off. The longer stains sit, the harder they are to remove.
• Avoid putting shoes on the seats. The small particles of dirt can embed into the fibres of the upholstery and become difficult to remove.
• Keep paper towels in the vehicle to clean up any messes as they happen.
• For sugary stains, such as a spilt soda, use a towel to sop up as much of the liquid as possible. Blot the area rather than rubbing it. Then, use a mild detergent to fully remove the sugary solution.

These tips will enhance the function of your vehicle. These, along with the spring car cleaning tips above, will ensure your car is working and looking its best throughout the spring and well beyond.

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