With the temperatures rising and the snow melting, now is the best time to get all of that winter grime off of your car. Road salt is very harsh to your car and can have a direct impact on how long your car will stay looking good. Here is my spring car cleaning todo list:
- Go to the automatic car wash - the first thing I do is go to the automatic car wash and purchase the wash with the undercarriage wash. You can do this yourself but it is a lot of work to get under the car and spray it down from every angle.
- Clean out all the trash and vacuum the inside - Get out the shop vac and take the mats out before vacuumming. Be sure to get into every crack and crevice. You can use cotton swabs or an old toothbrush to get into those hard to reach places.
- Shampoo the the carpet - The slushy salty water probably has left nice white stains on your carpets. You can use our homemade carpet shampoo.
- Wash your car by hand - Give your car a nice hand wash. First, use the right soap, never use dish soap on a car. Also, don't wash in direct sunlight as the soap can dry and mar your cars finish. Work from the top down rinsing often. Save the bumpers, fenders and wheels for last as they tend to attract the most dirt. Lastly rinse the car well with water and dry with a chamois or microfiber cloth.
- Wash and clean the windows and mirrors - You can use our homemade window cleaner. Be sure to do inside and out.
- Touch up any blemishes - find all chips and scratches and fix with touch-up paint. Use long strokes to keep the paint smooth. You can blow on the wet paint to help even it out.
- Wax on, wax off - waxing will do wonders at keeping your car looking good for years to come. Depending on the type of wax you use, you should wax your car at least twice a year. I'm working a more in depth post at reviewing the different types of waxes and their benefits.
