How to Clean a Car at home?
Cleaning your car to a professional standard is not just a matter of vanity; it’s a tricky way to maintain your car’s value. Nothing makes your car look better than a good wash. It’s a critical step if you’re selling your used car, but even if you’re not, it’s essential for good maintenance and to help you enjoy your ride. The best car wash can happen in your driveway with a hose, soap, cleaning mitts, and a few buckets of water.
How to clean a car’s exterior?
Materials needed to clean your car’s exterior.
- Two buckets (one for water and the other for soapy water)
- A car cleaner
- Soft sponge
- Car cleaning mitt
- Tire cleaning, long bristle brush
- Soft terry towels to dry the car.
- Car wax
Steps to clean a car’s exterior
Step 1. Start the cleaning by parking your car in the shade.
Before cleaning, make your car exterior cool and park in a shadowy area. Heat speeds up the drying time, leaving behind water and soup spots that look bad.
Step 2. Rinse the car with water
To properly wash your car, first, rinse it off with water. Get the whole car wet and try to spray off any loose dirt and debris to avoid scratching your vehicle. Remove leaves, twigs, and other litter with your hands.
Step 3. Fill the buckets
Use two buckets, one for the cleaning solution and the other for clean water, to rinse and remove dirt from your washing mitt or sponge before filling it with soap again.
Step 4. Wash the car using car-specific cleaners.
Use a cleaning solution specific to cars as they are not harmful to car paint, and allow the water to sheet and bead off, making the drying process quicker and reducing the chances of water spots.
Step 5. Clean in sections and start from the top.
Start cleaning from the top of your car to the bottom and work in sections. To prevent the soap from drying onto your vehicle, thoroughly rinse each area with water after cleaning it with soap.
Step 6. Clean in up and down motion.
Scrub your car in up and down motion. Avoid cleaning the car in a circular motion that can leave swirl marks on the car’s exterior.
Step 7. Rinse the sponge after each use
The debris on the sponge may scratch your car, so make sure to rinse it in the water after each use.
Step 8. Employ a chamois to dry your car
Do not allow your car to air dry; that can cause watermarks and streaking. Instead, use a soft-terry towel or a chamois to dry your car by applying slight pressure. Squeeze water from the cloth as you continue to dry until you clean every spot.
How to clean a car’s headlights?
Over time, the shiny coat of the headlights may dull due to environmental factors. The best solution to get rid of the outer layer of haze is to sanding by Using headlight sandpaper along with a Sanding agent.
And if you like to leave the work to the professionals, take your car to an auto shop.
How to clean dead bugs from your windshield?
Dead bugs may harden and stick to your glass, especially if they sit in the sun. Soak the bugs with warm water or vinegar to remove dead bugs from your windshield or any other drink. Once they’re soft, apply glass cleaner and wipe your windshield gently with a microfiber cloth until clean.
Alternatively, purchase a bug cleaner and sponge to remove bugs professionally.
How to clean a car’s wheels?
- Clean each tire at a time using a cleaner specifically designed for them. Wash, rinse, dry, and move on to the next one.
- Use a brush with feathered bristles for visible areas and a slender brush for the inner regions of the wheels.
- Polish your wheels using tire-specific wax to create a barrier against dust, dirt, grime, and other elements.
Now that the car’s exterior and tires are clean let’s look at the technique and materials needed to wash the interior.
How to clean a car’s interior?
Materials needed to clean your car’s interior.
- A vacuum cleaner
- Trash bin
- Window cleaner
- Multipurpose foam cleanser
- A foam carpet cleaner
- Cotton swabs
- Paper towels and rags.
Steps to clean car’s interior
Step 1. Vacate the floor mats.
Shake them to remove dust, dirt, and debris, then vacuum clean them.
Step 2. Get the trash out
Pick up any trash from the car’s interior. Remove the junk from cup holders and beneath the seats and place the mess in a trash bag.
Step 3. Apply carpet cleaner
Spray the carpet cleaner onto the carpet’s stain and rub it into the carpet using a bristle brush. Smudge the cleaner using a towel and dry the area.
Step 4. Apply fabric cleaner
Spray a foam, fabric cleanser onto seat stains, rub using a soft brush and let it dry. Then vacuum it to remove the cleaner.
Step 5. Apply leather cleaner and conditioner
Don’t use ammonia-based cleaners on leather seats as they may damage the leather. Instead, use a leather cleaner or saddle soap to clean the seats, followed by a leather conditioner to prevent fading and cracking.
Step 6. Clean in and around all the cavities and openings.
- To sanitize the dashboard and console, use specially formulated car wipes.
- Try cotton swabs to clean small areas like radio buttons, air vents, and panel layers.
- Use glass cleaner to clean the cup holders and toothpicks to pick out grime and dirt from all small crevices.
Step 7. Window cleaner
Spray any household glass cleaner onto a clean towel and wipe both the inner and outer sides of the window in an up-and-down motion.
Step 8. A thorough vacuum cleaning
- Start vacuuming from the top of the seats, dashboard, and console before moving to the floor.
- Adjust the seats backward and forward to clean under the seats, and use a toothbrush to scrape debris rooted in crevices.
Step 9. Odor removal spray
Use an air freshener to remove any remaining smells from your car.
Invest in a car organizer
Regulate your belongings by purchasing a car organizer of your choice.
Vacant and clean the car trunk
Remove excessive items from the trunk to make room and save on gas mileage. Then vacuum it thoroughly and spray air freshness to remove odors.
Car waxing
Washing your car removes dirt and grime, but it’s a good waxing that makes your car look like new. Plus, wax protects your car from exterior dings and scratches.
Use the foam applicator with your product and apply the wax using gentle, overlapping circular motions. Buff the car when you’re done and use a microfiber cloth to remove excess wax.
Takeaway
A regular car wash protects the body of the car from various environmental elements and other materials, such as sprinkling bugs, bird droppings, and dirt. If the automobile goes without a wash for months, these materials could build up on the car’s surface and damage the paint. Just as the exterior of the vehicle needs regular care, the interior of the car requires routine attention, as well. Avoiding regular cleanings can result in costly expenses due to the build-up of dirt, dust, and grime.