Car Cleaning Tips
Mrs Clean Recommends:
Tips To Clean Your Car
How To Clean Your Car Like A Professional
For many people, the car is one of their most precious possessions. It might also be your biggest investment – next to your own home. You want to keep it clean and looking nice at all times. However, we all know that our vehicles go through a lot and they can get in some pretty dirty situations.
You also have different parts of your car to clean both inside and out. The different parts are made from different substances and you might have to clean your windows and windshield, tires, rims, car painted surfaces, carpets inside, seats and other upholstery inside and more.
Types of Problems
Inside car stains:
- Spills and messes
- Food and drink
- Body fluids
- Other accidents
- Normal wear
Outside car stains:
- Mud and dirt
- Bird droppings
- Tar from roads
- Bugs on windshield
- Pitch from trees
You need to know what works to clean your car and keep it looking new for a long time to come.
Cleaning Car Windows
When cleaning your car windows, you want to avoid those annoying streaks and spots. How can you clean the windows and leave them streak free?
- Use a window cleaner designed for cars.
- Work in a small area at a time moving in small circles of 2-3 inches.
- Repeat if needed.
Cleaning Car Upholstery
Cleaning the upholstery in your car can be a tough challenge. There are different types of materials that it can be made out of. Are your seats and upholstery cloth or leather?
A good tip when it comes to car cleaning is prevention and protection. A coat of Armor All or similar substance can protect the seats and upholstery and make it easier to just wipe clean.
Some stains in leather wipe clean with warm water and maybe some mild soap. Stains in cloth can sometimes be more difficult. Use baking soda and water (test in an unseen area) and blot at the stain with a clean dye- free towel.
Waxing and Washing Cleaning Tips
When it comes to washing and waxing, here are some tips to help you keep a clean car as much as possible.
- Rinse thick stains off as soon as possible. For example, don’t let mud dry and cake on.
- Wash problem areas first such as ground in road dirt or tar. This pre-wash is very important.
- You should spend about 10 minutes pre-washing your car.
- If you work slowly and it is a hot day, you might want to rinse one side before moving to the other so the soap doesn’t dry into the paint.
- Next, after you rinse you will completely wash again.
- Shampoo the car with a sponge and/or cleaning pad. Be sure you work in small circles and be careful not to scratch the paint.
- Next you can move on to your tires and wheels.
- Rinse your car again and then dry it carefully usually a soft towel to prevent spotting.
Products to Clean Your Car
There are many types of products out there to clean your car. There are also many materials and surfaces inside a car. Vinyl, leather, acrylic paint, rubber, chrome, glass and plastic all clean better when you use the specific type of cleaner made for them. There are some products you should avoid altogether.
No Strong Detergents/Soap
The strong solvents in most cleaning products can break down and damage paint, vinyl, and leather and rubber material. Laundry detergent is highly alkaline and all soaps leave a film residue which will dull the shine so you should avoid these on your vehicle.
Do Not Use Ammonia Based Products
Ammonia is used in certain glass cleaners and all-purpose cleaners and should be avoided on your car. Ammonia based cleaners will degrade and crack the leather, vinyl and rubber on a vehicle. It can also damage the tint on tinted glass windows.
Here are some more car cleaning tips for specific problems you may experience.
Remove Road Tar
To remove stubborn road tar from your car, try Touch of Oranges Wood Cleaner. Test it on a small area first just to b sure. Then spray it on a cloth and rub it on the tar. Then rinse it off and the tar should come off easily.
Remove Pitch Dropped From Trees
If you must park in a driveway with overhanging branches of evergreens or other trees, you may experience drops of pitch on your car. There are several cleaning products available commercially that are good to remove the pitch stains, but you may also try to remove it yourself by rubbing with a cloth dampened with ordinary rubbing alcohol. You may also apply vegetable shortening or lard to the pitch, then work it in with a soft cloth so as not to damage the finish of your vehicle. Either of these methods should remove the pitch, then you can wash your car as usual.
Cleaning Your Wheels
To clean your wheels, rinse off all excess dirt and grime. Brush your wheels with soap and water being careful not to use anything abrasive or scratch your rims. Use a hard scrub brush to shine them and then rinse.
Mirrors and Windows
Be sure when you have cleaned and dried the rest of the car, you finish the look by cleaning your mirrors and windows. Make sure that you clean them using an ammonia free glass cleaner and newspaper to get streak free. If you don’t have newspaper, you can use a pillowcase or cloth diaper.
