Driving is one of the worst things for your car, but that’s what it’s made to do. If you want to keep your car pristine and looking great, check out these tips.
Every time you head out on the road, you’re reducing the lifespan of your vehicle. Still, the fun of driving a great-looking car that’s recently been cleaned and detailed is a wonderful feeling. You can extend the life of the gorgeous shine your car had when you first picked it up at the dealership with a few tips and techniques.
Wash Away the Road Dirt; But Not Too Often
Dirt, road grime and other debris gets caught in your paint and on the body of your car. Over time, these things can damage your vehicle. If you’ve used protective wax and polish on your vehicle, you don’t want to wash away this protective coating too often. That said, it’s important to regularly wash away the issues facing your vehicle. Regularly washing away road grime is only the first step in keeping your car looking its best.
Don’t Let Your Ride Face the Elements
Drive up and down any neighborhood road in America, and you may notice more vehicles parked outside the garage than ever before. People have turned garages into party areas, storage lockers, and anything but a place for their cars. One of the best ways to keep your car pristine is to keep it out of the elements. This means covering the car when parked in your driveway or parking it in the garage instead of using the garage as an additional room in your home.
Wax Is The Secret Ingredient
Applying wax to your car should be a regular part of your cleaning routine if you want your car to look its best at all times. You won’t need to apply wax after every wash, but after every other wash should work great. Wax offers another layer of protection against road grime, elements, and the brushes at the car wash. In addition to the applied wax, you’ll want to add polish to your cleaning routine. You should apply polish about once every three months before adding the wax.
Keep the Underbody Clean
Just because the outside of your car looks pristine doesn’t mean it’s in great condition. You should look underneath and get this area clean as well. If you live in an area with harsh winters, salt, ice, and dirt can build up under your car and damage important parts of your vehicle. Perform an underbody wash at least once after the winter season and once after each season after that to ensure this area of the car stays in top condition.
Don’t Let Chips and Scratches Remain
A small chip in the paint that cuts into the coating of the metal can be damaging to your vehicle. These small issues can become intense headaches and cause terrible problems. The paint and coatings on your car are there to protect the body from damage. Make sure you take care of any chips and scratches right away to help ensure your car will stay in pristine condition. This is one of the most important steps in caring for your car.
Make Car Cleaning and Maintenance Important
We all have busy lives and tend to put things off until tomorrow. If you’re serious about keeping your car in tip-top shape, you need to create a cleaning and maintenance schedule. New vehicles have a maintenance schedule set by the automaker, which makes this a little easier. Set aside a few hours every other week to clean your car and keep the appearance looking great. This time spent is worth it when your car looks great and lasts a long time. When it’s time to sell your car, you’ll get a lot more out of it.
Don’t Forget the Glass
Your car’s mirrors, windows, and windshield are some of the most important parts. You need to be able to see clearly out of the windows and use the mirrors to see what’s going on around you. Once you’ve waxed the painted surface of your car, use glass cleaner to clean these items. When your glass looks great, it puts that final touch on your vehicle to offer the best presentation. If you want to keep your car in pristine condition, pay attention to the details.
It takes a little time and effort to keep your car in pristine condition, but that time and effort are worth it when you’re ready to hit the road and enjoy the beauty of your vehicle.
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