How to Properly Spring Clean Your Vehicle

When it comes to any car, truck or SUV, having a nice clean vehicle not only looks good but can also make your vehicle last longer! Spring is a rollercoaster when it comes to weather here in Lloydminster, Alberta, and because of this, making use of those first lovely days is crucial.

 We have collected some tips and tricks from our detailing team to help you clean your car, but don’t forget that if you need that next level clean or simply don’t have the time, please book your vehicle in for detail to get that new car feeling all over again.

Step One: How to properly clean your car’s interior.

Remove your Stuff and Organize

When you start with the interior, it’s best to get all of your stuff in your glove box, center console and other nooks and crannies out first. Removing your property helps you prepare the area to be cleaned while also helping you eliminate some junk living in your vehicle. Who knows, you might find some loose change or even cash. Make sure to also take out all floor mats and give them clean with soap and water if they are all-weather mats.

Top-down approach

When cleaning the inside of your vehicle, all the mess that’s higher up will naturally fall to the ground as you start cleaning. When you start with the top, you make your job a lot easier as you can easily vacuum up all the crumbs and dirt at the end, saving you time.

Use compress air

Honestly, if there is any takeaway from cleaning your interior, it’s the power that compressed air has. There are many areas where dust buildup doesn’t come loose easily, especially in hard-to-reach spots. When using compressed air, you’re able to clean out vents and get those tricky areas between the seat and around the car.

Don’t go overboard on the carpet/fabric cleaner

Choose a carpet or fabric cleaner that is gentle and don’t try and get something too strong. If you have a tough stain, let the experts look at Silverwood Toyota look at it as we have encountered all kinds of messes and stains.

Only apply polish if needed

Dual-action polishers work best; However, only do so if needed as overuse can cause vinyl to crack. Only use it if needed, as oil-based finishing products can leave a greasy residue that can attract dirt and dust, especially when polishing by hand.

Vacuum the interior

Now that you have all the creases cleaned and hard surfaces are taken care of, it’s time to get that vacuum going.

Clean the glass windows and mirrors

Grab some glass cleaner and start spraying it on while only wiping it with a dry microfiber cloth. Another tip to take care of grime and a streak-free finish would be to use extra fine steel wool in a circular motion with a heavy dose of window cleaner, then wipe it with a microfiber cloth.

Step Two: How to clean the exterior of your vehicle

Avoid the brush!

Unless you have a truck lined with bed liner, it’s best not to use a brush. Brushes can leave minor scratches in the Finnish. It’s best to use touchless options or a pressure washer in a low-pressure setting. Remember to start with the top and work your way down. When drying the vehicle, make sure to use a microfiber cloth to hand wash and polish to prevent pain damage.

Washing the Rims.

Your rims can either be made up of aluminum or steel, so try and find the right cleaner for the right rim. When using a bristle, make sure it’s soft as rims are just like paint and prone to scratching.

Get those tires clean.

Feel free to use an all-purpose cleaner on your vehicle’s tires and a courser brush to dislodge any debris.

Find your inner karate kid.

Wax on, wax off, wax on, wax off. Not only is it great practice for your next karate meet it also helps prevent fading paint, basically car sunscreen. The nice thing is that you only need to apply it once every six months or so if you’re using a good wax product. Best to apply the wax in a smaller area and clean it off with a microfiber cloth.

Get a Professional

Some options are going to need a Pro: