In the midst of messy winter slush, snow, and mud, it can be easy to let your car go uncared for. Suddenly, you have a huge cleaning mess on your hands, and you have to choose between tackling the mess yourself or paying a large amount to have it done.
We’ve compiled a quick list of some easy car detailing jobs that can get your car back in good condition, both inside and out, and help you keep it that way!
Air Vents
Use an inexpensive artist’s brush and a spray of furniture polish on the bristles to wipe out your air vents. Vacuums and dusting cloths won’t be able to get the dust that piles up on them, and the furniture polish on the brush will help keep it from building up again.
Replace Carpet
If you’ve recently bought a used car that’s a great deal but that has carpet in bad condition, or if your carpet needs updating from wear and tear, it’s surprisingly affordable to replace. You can order preformed carpet for your car’s make and model, and installation would only take a few hours. Here’s a great article with more details on that process.
Cleaning Tight Spaces
It can be hard to reach some of the nooks and crannies of your car’s interior, but an old, dull screwdriver can be a helpful tool in the process! Wrap a cloth around the dull end of the screwdriver and spray with an all-purpose cleaner to wipe up dust and dirt in hard to reach spots.
Start at the Top
Always start at the top of the interior of the car, just like you would when washing the outside. If you start with vacuuming or shampooing the carpets, you’ll just be adding a new layer of dirt when cleaning things like the dash or vents. Sucking up the dust with a vacuum as you clean the upper areas of the car keep all that grime from being piled on the carpets or seats.
Compressed Air
Grab a can of compressed air to clean out those areas that are hard to reach, even for the wrapped screwdriver or paint brush method.
Two Bucket Washing
The two bucket method is the best way to clean the outside of your car. One bucket holds the clean suds (make sure to use car washing soap–not dish soap!), and one has clean water for rinsing. After scrubbing the exterior of your car with a sponge dipped in the soapy water, rinse it out in the rinsing water before returning it to the soapy water. This keeps a lot of dirt that could be building up in the sponge from getting into your clean suds and scrubbed back onto your car.
Brushes
Many professional car detailers find that agitation is better than chemicals, so a good brush can be helpful in a variety of ways. Dry brushing your carpets before vacuuming can help break up a lot of dirt and stains.
Car detailing can become a source of enjoyment and pride for many car owners, no matter the make or model of your car — a clean car makes driving more enjoyable! If you’re worried about your car being exposed to the elements this winter while it’s not being used, or if you need to clear some space in your garage or yard because of an unused car taking up space, give us at Self Assured Storage a call! We can get your vehicle safely stored out of the elements, and keep it clean and protected until you need it again!
