Spring Cleaning Your Vehicle: Dos and Don’ts

Maybe it is the global events of the last couple of years that turned homebodies into the most social of butterflies, or pride of ownership, or to save money and have tasks performed just the way you want them. We’ve been talking about Spring cleaning your ride, inside and out. Here are some tips from auto pros on what should be cleaned, and what to leave alone.

1. Clear Out and Vacuum: Much has been written about washing and waxing your car, truck, SUV, or commercial vehicle, so we’ll revisit the exterior later. Inside, start by clearing out the junk that accumulates weekly when your car is used for commuting, your kids’ activities, and as a mobile snack and storage unit. Next, vacuum loose dirt and dust from seats, carpeting, vents, and crevices between seats with those tools you never use inside your home. Be sure to remove your vinyl floor mats and hose those down separately. Allow them to dry on a clean surface away from direct sunlight.
2. Wash and Renew Car Interior Coatings: Now it is on to cleaning surfaces and renewing car interior coatings to protect your upholstery, carpet, and dashboard. There are many products, but some of the easiest are cloths that are saturated with silicone and are ideal for treating every square inch of your dash. If your children have stained interior fabrics, first clean with a specially-formulated spray upholstery cleaner. When completely dry, spray with silicone protectant just for car seats and carpets. If your seating is leather, buy the best quality cleaners and take the time necessary to protect and preserve the hides. This will extend the life of your car seats, restoring them to showroom condition while preserving their finish. Do not forget windows! Cover upholstery, carpets and dashboard with towels. Then use a spray window cleaner with an ammonia content and dry with a microfiber towel to ensure a thorough clean without streaks.
3. Windshield: Inside and out, think of your car’s windows as safety features and take the extra steps to protect their finishes. If you wisely opted for a Crystal Fusion treatment at your car dealership, here are some tips for keeping its bonded windshield finish in optimal condition:

• Wash your windshield away from direct sunlight.
• Do not spray cleaning solvents directly onto your windshield’s exterior. Instead, spray into a microfiber cloth.
• Use even strokes to avoid streaking, and dry immediately using a clean, microfiber cloth.

If you are thinking about buying your next vehicle, be sure to consider the value and safety features of Crystal Fusion windshield treatment. To learn more, contact us!