How to Spring Clean Your Car

Keeping your vehicle clean is very important. You should keep the interior of your car free of clutter and debris. At least once a year, you should take the time to do a thorough cleaning of your car. Historically, this once a year deep cleaning is referred to as Spring Cleaning, but it can be done at any time of year. And depending upon the state of your regular maintenance, this can be done more than once a year. For example, people who habitually drive with children or pets in their autos may need to do a Spring Cleaning more often than those without these extra messes do.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Start with the clearing out of clutter. Often, you may leave things in your car for another time and then forget about them. It is easy to fall into the habit of putting off the clearing out of these things or throwing things away. Make sure to check in the nooks and crannies that debris could collect in such as under seats, the pockets in seat backs, things stuck in the visor or in the cup holders, and the cubbies in your door panels.

2. Clean the interior of the car after removing excess items. Dust the dashboard. Depending on your car’s interior, you may need to purchase a special cleaning solution. If you have plastic floor mats, take them out and wash them. Wash in all the recesses like cup holders, door panels, ashtrays, interiors of any consoles you may have, and glove compartment. Vacuum all the carpeting in the vehicle. Don’t forget to sweep under the seats and under any floor mats. If your upholstery is cloth, vacuum that as well.

3. Wash the exterior of the car next. Make a bucket of water mixed with a car cleaning detergent. Wet the car, then with a sponge or special automotive scrubber, wash the car body with the soapy mixture. Pay special attention to areas with higher amounts of griminess such as around wheel wells, rocker panels and the front grille. Don’t forget to scrub the tires and hubcaps or rims. You can use the same soapy mixture, or you may choose to purchase a specialized tire cleaner. After cleaning the car’s exterior, you may want to apply a coat of wax and buff it to maximize the shininess and life of your paint job.

4. Washing the windows is an important step. Your windows need to be clean in order for you to be able to see traffic clearly. Spray on a window cleaner, and wipe with a clean, dust free cloth. Make sure when you do this, you erase any streaks that may hinder your vision. You should wash the interior and exterior of side windows, windshield and rear window. Also, make sure to wash your rear-view mirrors on the interior and exterior of your vehicle.

5. Organize the things that you have to put back in after making sure that the car is clean. Placing a trash receptacle in you car can dramatically reduce the amount of clutter that accumulates in the car. Only keep things in your car that need to be there. Replace your registration, insurance information, and any other important paperwork in your glove box. Make sure that after cleaning your mirrors, you put them back in their proper positions before driving. Remember that the cleanliness of your vehicle is not only important for its appearance, but also as a safety measure.