No matter how hard you try, even if you’re incredibly organized and tidy, it’s impossible to keep your car pristine. Instead of paying a ton of money to get your car professionally detailed, there’s plenty of things you can do at home to keep your car looking immaculate. Whether you’ve got a big mess or you’re interested in keeping your interior sparkling, these following tips can help you get your car fresh and detailed like you took it to a shop.
Always Read Labels
It seems like a no-brainer, but really, using the wrong cleaning products can cause some serious issues with your vehicle and can cheapen its overall look. Make sure you read the label carefully before applying. Some cleaners, for example, are harsher than others in accordance with the metal types they’re designed to work with. If you apply chrome cleaner, which is extremely acidic, to aluminum, it’ll eat away at the metal and can cause cosmetic and structural damage.
In addition, you’ll want to make sure you’re applying products where they belong. This may seem silly, but when you’re doing an in-depth detailing, you’re bound to have several bottles open. Just make sure that the one you’re grabbing is what you think it is before you wash your entire car with wheel cleaner.
Get the Right Products
While it’s tempting to buy the cheapest products, especially if you’re starting from scratch, getting decent products can make a huge difference in the quality of your detail work. We don’t mean to suggest that you buy the most expensive products available, but check out online reviews before you head to the auto store. Make sure that you verify that your products are appropriate for your vehicle and that they’ll do what you need. For example, not all car washes do well to remove bug residue while others are designed to remove tar.
Consider Clay
Clay is one of the best ways to deal with difficult-to-remove materials. Tough bonded items like sap, bugs, or overspray are extremely difficult to get off car paint without damaging it. Instead of scrubbing with rough exfoliating pads or chemicals that can strip your car, a clay bar can make all the difference. Clay bars will remove the material, along with any wax around the area. You’ll want to be sure to rewax after using them, but they’re one of the easiest, and most overlooked, ways to get your car looking spic and span.
Remove What You Can
When cleaning the interior of your car, get everything out of the interior that you can, from trash to organizing tools to umbrellas. The less you have inside, the easier it will be to get into the smaller nooks and crannies to find debris or trash. While it may be tempting to leave items inside that you know you’ll need, it’s better to remove them and then put them back afterward than try to clean around them.
These four tips can help you get your vehicle looking professionally clean without paying exorbitant prices for detailing. By using these tips and doing light washes in between, your car will stay looking excellent and polished.
Image via Pixabay
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