Let’s face it, winter isn’t the best time to give your car a thorough clean. In fact, it’s impractical since the cabin will only keep getting wet and soiled until all the snow is gone. Simple decluttering and vacuuming will do. But now that it’s spring, you shouldn’t put off deep cleaning any longer. A Ford dealer near Louisville, KY highlights the importance of spring cleaning your car and offers a few tips on how to carry it out.
Inspect Your Car and Assess the Dirtiness
While it’s a good idea to spring clean your car on your own, there may be instances when hiring a professional makes more sense. And that’s why you first need to know how much dirt you’re dealing with and what tools and cleaning agents you have access to before you start. The last thing you want is to cause more harm than good to your car after using the wrong chemicals and need to call in a professional to fix the damage.
Get Rid of Trash and Excess Grime
The rule of thumb in any form of cleaning is to remove excess dirt first before dealing with stubborn stains. This will also help prevent the excess dirt from spreading and sinking deeper into leather and fabric. Once you have all the cleaning tools and agents you need, start by gathering trash and debris, including toys, mats, and personal items stuck in crevices between the seats. Remove as many removable items from the vehicle to reach inaccessible areas.
Wash the Mats and Seats
After finishing inside the vehicle, it’s time to clean all of the things that you took out. Wash the floor mats thoroughly because they are the dirtiest items in your car. They carry a lot of dust and grime, which usually take a few rounds of rinsing to disappear altogether. If you have rubber or silicone mats, wash them with a mix of warm water and liquid detergent. Make sure they are completely dry before putting them back inside your car.
Bring the Sheen Back to the Headlights
You’ll probably notice your headlights becoming dimmer than they used to be. That’s because of fogging and dust build-up on their surface. One effective way to restore their sheen and clarity is by scrubbing their surface with toothpaste or baking soda. While these substances are abrasive enough to remove the fogging, they are not too abrasive to damage the headlights.
Wash the Body of Your Car
Since you’ve been cleaning your vehicle, it would be sensible to include the whole exterior. Start with the windshield. Make sure it’s free of stains that might obstruct your view. Clean the wipers as well. Dirt may have collected on the blades and it might spread on the windshield once the wipers are switched on. Use only safe and recommended cleaning agents to avoid damaging your car body’s surface.
While cleaning a car is generally not a complicated process, you still need to know the safe products to use. After all, you don’t want to damage your vehicle, especially because some types of damage are irreversible. Ask a Ford dealer near Louisville, KY for advice to avoid making mistakes. You can also check out Jim O’neal Ford for more helpful tips.
