Taking care of your car’s interior
Nothing compares to the smell of your brand new car. But, as with all good things, that too, will come to an end. There are a few things you can do to keep your ride looking, and smeling its best.
Take a seat
Regularly taking care of your interior is a great place to start. With convertibles, the harsh conditions that affect the outside of your car, are now affecting the inside. Using an interior spray that is both a cleaner and a protectant will rid your car of any current dirt, and keep it from attracting any new dirt. Pay extra attention to the surfaces of the seats. Harmful particles can settle and collect in your vehicle’s seating and cause damage over time.
Keep cleaners in their lanes
While you’re at it, be sure to apply any cleaning products with the recommended applicator: a towel for example. Avoid spraying products directly onto surfaces. Instead, spraying a cleaner onto a towel gives you control over how much of the product is used, and where it goes. Over spraying a surface unintentionally can create big problems. If your vinyl protectant gets sprayed onto your glass it is tough to remove and is just a waste of your time.
Suck it up
Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. It may seem incredibly inconvenient, but a regular, quick vacuum of your car’s interior will keep it just that—a quick vacuum. Rather than waiting until fast food bags are competing with their napkin-counterparts for rear-view mirror space, make a point to rid your car of trash after each use. This will result in an even quicker vacuum. Debris and dirt left on your car’s flooring allow time for them to become ground-in and sometimes, too late to get totally clean. Car wash vacuums pack a lot of bang for their buck (or.. quarters) but can make you rush unnecessarily, as you play to beat the clock. Investing in an inexpensive portable vacuum may make this all a bit less painful.
Inside, outside, up-side-down side
Let’s move on to the outside your four-wheeled friend. Rinsing your car after every drive may seem a bit overkill, but if it’s possible, it’s worth it in the long run. Spraying a waterless cleaning product is a good back-up option. It only takes about 10 minutes to do the entire car and will save you a bunch of effort later on.
Rinse and repeat?
If you can wash your car, do so once a week. Before you uncoil that hose, check around the car for any deposits, so you can gently remove them first. Washing by hand, with a mild detergent, is always best. Detergents designed specifically for cars take away the wax and polish on your paint, so go gentle whenever possible.
After you rinse, don’t repeat, dry instead. A good quality chamois is a great tool for this job. Be sure to not scrunch the chamois when using it. Lay it flat on the surface and drag it across the panels so it will absorb the most moisture. Remove the excess moisture by squeezing the chamois after each swipe. Repeat the process until the entire car has been dried.
Like looking in a mirror
Using a polish on your car not only makes it look new, it protects delicate paint surfaces. You don’t need to polish your car weekly like you do with washing. Instead, polishing your car about every six months is sufficient.
Taking the show on the road
Taking a few simple steps to keep your car in good shape is not a difficult or even a timely endeavor. Performing some regular, easy maintenance will help keep your car on the road, down the road.
For more complicated fixes to your vehicle’s body or engine, give us a call at Tropical Collision at (305) 908-5548. We’re here seven days a week to make sure you’re back on the road as soon as possible!