Enjoy the nice summer weather, and be productive at the same time. You don?t have to be cooped up inside to get cleaning accomplished. Here are some easy tips and tricks for DIY car detailing that you can put to use while spending time in the great outdoors. Alternatively, you could seek out some Car Detailing Services that will prevent you from having to spend so long getting your car clean all by yourself.
Inside the Vehicle
There are a few key components to detailing the inside of a vehicle. First, you want to clean the upholstery. Second, you want to get into all the nooks and crannies (a cotton swab is good for reaching into all the tiny crevices). Lastly, you want to make sure to condition and protect the dashboard and other interior areas from fading. This Popular Mechanics article gives and in depth look at detailing the inside of a vehicle.
Washing the Vehicle
Unlike cleaning a home where you clean from the top down, on a vehicle, you want to start with the wheels. After you have completed the wheels, you can head to the roof and windows. Then, the hood, trunk, doors, and down. Professionals prefer to use a mitt when washing a vehicle and have several processes to avoid scratching the paint. You can read about these tips in this Practical Hacks article that outlines the entire detailing process. Please remember that you don’t need to use loads of water when you are washing your car. Do not leave hoses running unnecessarily and don’t throw endless buckets of water over your car – it just wastes valuable water. If you feel you waste lots of water when you wash your car, it might be better to leave it to the experts. This car detailing company in Toronto, for example, use steam cleaning power to minimise water usage.
Clean without Chemicals
Here at The Cleaning Crew, LLC, we prefer to be as chemical-free as possible. That’s why we love DIY cleaning recipes that help maintain our ‘green’ clean. Robin at Fluster Buster blog complied a list of awesome alternative cleaning solutions that you can use to clean your vehicle. This list includes: Homemade Car Soap, Spot Free Rinse, No Streak Glass Cleaner, and Upholstery Cleaner
You can find the complete list here.
Stop the Scratching
Avoiding scratching the exterior paint of the vehicle is one of the major parts of hand washing a car. Technically, it?s called micro-marring. That’s the small scratches that can be seen when light hits the finish of a vehicle. They come from small bits of grit or dirt that get rubbed against the finish as it is being washed. If you’re worried about scratching your car whilst washing it, you could look into getting a Ceramic coating for cars which helps prevent your car getting scratches.
Do’s and Don’ts
Don?t just use any old towel or rag to wash.
Do Use microfiber cloths.
Don’t use the same rag or towel for the entire process.
Do label them for each part of the car to reduce scratching.
Don’t use automated car washes with strips that touch your car.
Do use spray car washes if you must go through one.
Don’t dunk your cleaning mitt into dirty water.
Do use a double rinse or grate in the bottom of your bucket to get the dirt and grime off the mitt.
You could even opt for using an air blower for car drying which could save you time cleaning your car, this is a great tool when wanting to cheat the drying process!
With the help of these tips, detailing your car should be a breeze. Now, get out there to enjoy the fresh air and a freshly cleaned vehicle.
Do you have any car detailing tips? Let us know in the comments!