Phebe's Car Care Tips

Buying a vehicle is a big investment so you want to keep your car in top condition. By looking after your car you will improve its long term value and keep your vehicle in showroom condition. Here are some simple tips to keep your car gleaming.

Never wash a hot car- You should only wash your car when the paintwork is cool. A simple test is to hold your hand on the paintwork and see how hot it is. If it is anything more than just warm, park it in the shade and let it cool down. Washing a hot car causes problems because the water evaporates before you are ready to chamois the paintwork dry which will leave a water stain that can only be removed by a high quality polish or by professional buffing. If the tap water is left to evaporate dry, the glass will become etched and it is nearly impossible to remove.

Wash the bugs off as soon as possible- After a long trip your cars bumper, bonnet and windscreen will be covered in bugs and insects. If left the bugs will etch into the paintwork and leave a permanent mark. As soon as you get home wash the bugs off. Not only is it easier when they are fresh it will protect your paintwork from damage.

Use 2 sponges- You have probably noticed that your wheels and tyres get really dirty and covered in grime if not washed regularly. It's a good idea to wash your wheels and tyres with a separate sponge to the one you wash the paintwork with. This is because the wheels become covered in tiny little particles of brake dust which if caught in your sponge will leave little scratches all over your paintwork. Keep your sponges separated and don't use the same bucket of soapy water to wash the paintwork if you have already used it to wash the wheels. A good idea is to wash the paintwork first and the whels and tyres last.

Use a quality car wash detergent- Car wash detergents are designed to clean your car without damaging your paintwork. Always use a car wash detergent as using heavy duty or kitchen detergents may permanently damage the paintwork.

Don't forget to clean and dry inside the doors and boot jambs- if you clean and dry inside the doors and boot jambs every time you wash your car, you will not get a dirty greasy build-up that is very difficult to remove.

Use Windex on your glass- Once you have finished cleaning and drying the entire vehicle, give your glass a spray with Windex or similar window cleaner and dry with some paper towel. Any marks on glass work can be removed with steel wool, but don’t use the steel wool on the paintwork.

Wipe down all of the hard interior surfaces-  like your dashboard and door trims with your damp chamois. Pay particular attention to the little areas that catch dust like the Air Conditioning vents and give the cup holders a good clean to remove any spilt drinks.

Clean up spills asap- If you spill any drinks on the seats or floor, make sure they are soaked up as soon as possible. Use a wet & dry vacuum if you have one. Spilt drinks can leave an odour that is almost impossible to remove from the car. Milk is particularly bad, and will smell like vomit and make your passengers want to vomit. Not good. Treatment with a quality fabric protector can delay the liquid from soaking into trims and carpets and give you a chance to mop it up before it's too late.

I hope this has been useful and helps you keep your car looking fantastic for years to come.

Phebe’s top tips

Window Tinting: Invest in a high quality window tint for your vehicle. Tinting protects the interior of your vehicle and you from harmful UV rays, and makes your car look fantastic. Call me now for a quote on your vehicle.

Reverse Sensors: Installing reversing sensors on your car will make parking so much easier. If you get too close to an object like another vehicle, or a post the sensors will warn you that you are too close before it is too late and you damage your vehicle and someone elses. I can have sensors fitted to your vehicle professionally and we can even colour code them to match your paintwork for a small charge. Call me now for a quote on reverse sensors for your vehicle.