If your claim to fame
is that your car always sparkles in spring or sun, we have bad news for you:
You've only hit the surface (literally) of what you should be doing to take
care of your car. Things like air filters, the underbody, and carpet odors are
just as important. Here are some cleaning tips from someone who helps people
care for their cars for a living:
1 You should wash your
car every single week.
"The biggest
mistake people make is not washing their car often enough," says Carl
Howard, CEO of Autobelll Car Wash. A weekly cleaning routine ensures things
like bird droppings and pine sap are removed before they become a bigger issue:
"The longer it stays on the surface, the harder it is to get off," he
says. If you have kids or store your car outside, you might want to wash yours
even more frequently.
2 You shouldn't treat
rain showers like free car washes.
It's actually bad for
your car (we know, bummer). You see, rain water is acidic, so drops can etch
the paint on your car if you don't wash it off. "I would let weather be
your guide, anytime there's an event try to wash your car," says Howard.
"And you should always wash it as soon as you can after it rains."
3 Go to a pro if you're
worried about waste
"Car washes have
to collect all of the water and mud and treat it before putting it back into
the sanitary system," explains Howard. Afterwards, the city treats the
water again before it goes back into streams — meaning any dirty water coming
from a car wash gets treated twice before being distributed back into nature.
4 Treat your wheels the
same as your paint job.
Even though these
clunky parts might seem like they're more durable than your paint, most have a
clear coat you have to clean regularly to protect, too. In fact, Howard
estimates that 90% of wheels fit into this category. So don't start slacking
when you get down below.
5 Pay extra attention
to the underbody during the winter
While salt might
prevent your car from sliding on ice during a snow storm, it's harmful to the
underbody of your car, since it's corrosive, and can lead to rusting over time.
However, this area is difficult to get to, so Howard recommends swinging by a
car wash as soon as possible after driving on ice to take advantage of their
underbody flushing system.
6 Don't forget to
replace interior air filters.
According to Howard,
cars that were made in the last 12 years or so have interior air filters that
most people forget about. The problem? If you don't replace them once every
year, they can get moldy (yuck!) and then you end up breathing in that polluted
air.
7 Pick your protection
based on how you store your car.
Sure, garages are nice
(especially on cold, snowy mornings), but they're not necessary, says Howard:
"I haven't always had a garage, but the main thing you have to do is keep
the finish on your car protected." All car washes offer sealants and waxes
that last approximately two weeks. Or, if you prefer a longer duration, you can
visit a detailer to apply protection that will last six to eight weeks.
8 Use laundry room
tricks to fight interior stains.
"People should
treat the interior of their car like the interior of their home," Howard
says. "If you have a spill, do your best to mitigate the damage before you
get to the car wash, because the longer you leave a stain untreated the harder
it is to get out." His most common challenge? Milk and baby formula in the
backseat.
9 Avoid fish spills at
all costs.
The next time you grab
fresh seafood from the market, make sure it's sealed property: "If that
stuff gets into your carpet, it's the hardest odor to get out," says
Howard. Especially if it's warm outside, because the windows create a solar
heating effect that only intensifies the (fishy) smell.
10 Don't be afraid of
over-cleaning your car.
"That's a
fallacy," says Howard. "When I was in our locations every day as a
manager, I would wash my car every day." But he stresses once again that
you can under wash your car.
