Today’s blog post comes from David who is a ‘car fanatic’. Do check his credentials below. Honestly, I wished I had checked this out before today! I could have saved thousands! I am guilty as charged, If you read my post about my driving experience you’d know I am a scaredy cat with driving so I am not confident with looking under the hood either.
There is so much more to just washing your car and keeping it clean inside and out. Properly cleaning and maintaining your car will make it last longer and improve its mileage. You end up saving on repairs or even replacing your car.
You may think that simply taking it to the car wash is enough. However, you also need to make sure that the engines are functioning well, the fluids are clean and enough, and a lot more. These are all crucial factors in improving the lifespan of your car.
10 Easy Cleaning Tips
A clean car is reflective of your personality. Simply driving it is not enough, you must keep it clean to prevent molds, mildew, dust, and pests from infesting your car. It is recommended that you give your car a full car wash on a weekly basis.
Tip # 1
Use separate microfiber cloths for drying your car and wiping off dust. Likewise, use separate sponges for shampooing your car’s body and for the wheels.
Tip # 2
Check the labels of cleaning products and make sure that it won’t damage your car. For example, avoid using a chrome wheel cleaner which is too acidic for aluminum wheels. On the other hand, avoid using detergent to clean your car as it will cause abrasions. Use an appropriate car shampoo.
Tip # 3
Rinse your car thoroughly before shampooing. This helps remove surface dirt and dust, so they won’t spread when you shampoo your car. After drying your car, use a clay bar to remove bonded surface contaminants. One part of distilled white vinegar diluted in water works very well in removing water spots on your car. If your car has scratches, use a compound to erase the scratches.
Tip # 4
Wax your car after cleaning it. Car wax is like sunscreen; it helps protect your car’s paint from fading. It also prevents water spots from forming when it rains. There are two kinds of car wax which are both good for your car – carnauba wax and polymer. Polymer wax is more expensive and can be wiped off immediately after application.
Tip # 5
Make sure you have a one-step cleaner wax for cleaning emergencies. If your car’s exterior is dusty or got drenched by rain, cleaner wax is great for cleaning and keeping it shiny.
Tip # 6
Clean the interiors by vacuuming even the air vents and hard to reach places. Wipe the dashboard with a leather cleaner or even olive oil to keep it shiny. If you have leather seats, you may use a magic eraser to remove sticky mess or a toothbrush with diluted dish soap to scrub off stains. Air out the floor mats and shake off the dust, preferably once or twice a week.
Tip # 7
Prevent cloudy headlights by using toothpaste and water to wipe your headlights.
Tip # 8
Keep your car smelling fresh and clean by using a car air purifier or ionizer. You can also go the natural way by keeping a jar of baking soda with a few drops of essential oil.
Tip # 9
Remove trash before leaving the car. It would be best if you have a small trash bin or plastic bag to keep trash. You don’t want pests and insects to dwell in your car.
Tip # 10
Use a glass cleaner that is made especially for cars. Avoid Windex and other household glass cleaners because they damage the car tint.
Maintenance Tips to Make your Car More Efficient
Now that you have learned about how to clean your car properly, you also need to know how to maintain it. Maintaining a car is not just a man’s job or a mechanic’s job. Your car needs to be properly maintained in order for you to use it without having major problems. You don’t always need to be a damsel in distress when it comes to maintaining cars. It is best to know how to check for signs and prevent damage.
Check the engine oil
Frequency: Weekly
If you don’t know how to do this, ask a friend or a mechanic to demonstrate how to read an oil dipstick accurately. Check if the oil is too dark, too sticky, and has a stench. Oil changes should be done every 3000 to 3500 miles along with the filter replacement.
Check the tire pressure
Frequency: Daily or before driving
Use an accurate tire pressure gauge and measure tire pressure before using your car. Under-inflation and over-inflation both cause your tires to wear out or burst easily. Also, check if your tires are uneven or have bulges. Tire alignment also needs to be checked during your regular service maintenance.
Check the fluids (Great tip for maintaining your car, people)
Frequency: Weekly
Check your car’s brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, and windshield washer. If you don’t know where they are, ask a friend or a mechanic to demonstrate to you how to check them.
Conclusion
After reading all those tips, you may think that “Hey, I didn’t know there was a lot more to just bringing it to the car wash!” Yes, it seems like a lot to take in, but don’t worry you’ll get used to it. Besides, you’ll feel like an expert when you don’t need to bring your car to the mechanic whenever you feel or smell something different.
Yes, it seems like a lot to take in, but don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. Besides, you’ll feel like an expert when you don’t need to bring your car to the mechanic whenever you feel or smell something different.
Your car will take you places. Your car is like your baby. I’m sure you’ll give yourself a pat on the back when your car is not only spic-and-span inside out but runs really well.
Got some tips and feedback for us? Please don’t hesitate to share!
Guest Author Bio
David Walker, the founder of CarUnderstanding, is a passionate car enthusiast and traveler. He shares great automotive experiences and tips in his blog. If you like to know more about cars and tips, don’t hesitate to visit his blog.
Thanks for the car tips 🙂
Thanks also for sharing my post on your Living Life While Squeezing Lemons board. Could I be added to the board please? My Pinterest e-mail is susanlambeth@hotmail.co.uk / user name thefitlook.
Sure! Are you following us?
They are also very basic and do not require the help of a professional mechanic, so I think every car owner should really adopt to this
Yes, that’s exactly the point. I am certainly making use of these oh so easy ideas for the upkeep of my car.
Awesome post! Definitely some great tips and advice on cleaning your car especially about not using windex or household glass cleaners since they can damage the tint. Thanks for sharing!
Great tips! I’ve always washed my car on my own but this is the first time I’ve heard of using toothpaste to clean the headlights!
Hi Jason,
You learn something new everyday, don’t you. Glad you found some useful tips here.
Great advice, really helpful tips! not far from that, I’ve got some great tips in how to prepare your car for the summer weather and I would like to share it with you guys. Let me you know if you want me to send a draft of the article.
While failing to wash your car won’t result in immediate damage, over time the elements will corrode your vehicle, along with its potential re-sell value. Thank you for sharing tips with us.
Tip #4 is something that I have tried telling people, but they simply would not listen. About Oil change, I am not sure of the number of miles, 3500 seems kind of less, with today’s technology, although checking it every week is a good enough strategy.
Thank you for giving us some very helpful tips. Hope to get some more in the future.
Tips are good. Very helpful indeed.
I have to admit I didn’t know most of these but I’m going to have to try to remember to pay more attention to what and how I’m cleaning my car! I’m definitely pinning for later!
I should have maintain my car the way you described! My car is very important to me as I need my car to go everywhere. I think I should start now.
Thanks- Jo and thanks- Leisa, for sharing such an informative blog. I called it illuminating just because there are many vehicle owners who are still incapable of understanding the true worth of the car maintenance. They usually take the auto repair and maintenance expenses as a wastage of money. I totally disagree with them. Because I feel that the routine maintenance is a speculation. Yes, it may cost you in advance, but in the long run, it will help you give a wide berth to mis-timed malfunctions, save your wallet from draining, and keep you and your passengers safe on the road. Thus, you should not take any repair or maintenance task lightly, rather you should do each and every aftercare task properly by appointing skilled auto mechanic to protect your investment.
Taking prevention rather than cure is such a wise idea. Clever you.Thanks so much for stopping by and also for your thoughtful comment.
Jo and Leisa xoxox
Great tips
In Florida you can get your windshield replaced for free with full coverage. Some states like Montana however will ticket drivers for cracked glass
Thanks for that info. I must admit, it’s news to me! Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for that info. I must admit, it’s news to me! Thanks for stopping by. xx
Hey,
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Have you ever wondered or thought about adding and updating your list on the blog post that encourages visitors to get engaged with your site more and more?
Let me know what you think,
Dennis.
Hi Jo and Leisa
Thanks for sharing. Do you know in earlier 90’s car headlight are made by glasses that time it’s hard to clean because it rushes and sometimes they had scratches. Thanks to technology nowadays it’s come with different technology and easy to clean with different cleaning products that are available and easy to purchase.
Great Post !! Very informative to keep updated your car.
I would definitely rather repair my car myself, and save some money. You have some great advice here to do that. Thanks for sharing this.
That is really an important thing you should get fix. seats may not just for comfort but safety too. get a good auto service to check that out.
I bought my first car last month. I really want to take good care of it. So, it is good to know that it would be smart to check the labels on the cleaning products. That does seem like it would help me keep the paint job looking nice. It might also be smart for me to get a professional to repair any issues with the body of my car.
awesome and effective post. Thank you for share this amazing post.
nice post. Thank you
I really need these tips because, by next week, I will be having a long overnight road trip. This is my first time, that is why I should be prepared to avoid any road accidents. I also checked my car properly to see if it is one of the condition to travel a long distance and It is.
I just got my first car and your post is really helpful.
Thanks for sharing
Aww that’s great. Good luck, and do be careful.