One thing I strive for is a clean vehicle because I really dislike driving a dirty car. Since I spend a fair amount of time in my car, I like it to be clean (and organized!). Unfortunately, due to the temperamental weather pattern here in the Northeast, it isn’t always easy to keep my car as clean as I would like. Now that winter is over and the rainy season has taken a hiatus, a complete detail of my car is next on my agenda. Here is my DIY step-by-step guide to make your vehicle shine like new!
Supplies Used To Make Your Vehicle Shine
- Meguiar’s Gold Car Wash
- 2 Wash Buckets
- Wash Mitt
- Meguiar’s Tire & Wheel Cleaner
- Tire Brush
- Bug & Tar Remover
- Quick Detailer
- Meguiar’s Spray Car Wax
- Tire Foam
- Microfiber Towels
- Invisible Glass
- Griot’s Garage Interior Cleaner
- Wet/Dry Vac
- Leather upholstery cleaner
- Rags (terry cloth or old white t-shirts)
- Cotton swabs and toothpicks
Equipment
The Basics of an Exterior Wash
- First and foremost, take the time to rinse all the loose dirt off of the vehicle. This includes wheel wells, tires, rims, and your grill. I like to use the “jet” setting on the hose nozzle for removing dirt. Doing this will save you time later by keeping your wash water cleaner. In addition, you reduce the risk of scratching the paint.
- Begin with the wheels and tires. Spray Meguiar’s Hot Rims Wheel &Tire Cleaner, following the instructions on the bottle and adhering to the safety advice. The product may need to be applied to a dry tire. Have a bucket of water and wheel and tire brushes ready (I don’t use the same bucket that I will use for the other parts of the car, as I don’t want to transfer brake dust and road grime onto my paint). Next, working on one tire at a time, clean the tires and wheels removing as much dirt as possible. A flexible wheel brush works well for tight areas. Rinse thoroughly and repeat on the other three tires.
- Add fresh, clean water to your wash bucket, being careful not to overfill (so it won’t be too heavy). Now, add the car wash soap, using the amount recommended on the bottle. Usually, a little bit of soap goes a long way. Adding soap to the water instead of adding water to the soap allows you to control the suds.
- Place windshield wipers in the upright position, if possible.
- Always start at the top and work your way down tackling one area at a time. The area you are working on should always be wet. Beginning at the roof of the vehicle, rinse with your hose. Load your wash mitt with soapy water, and begin cleaning. Rinse with the hose, and work your way down, making sure every area has been thoroughly cleaned and rinsed. If you are feeling ambitious, open the fuel door and carefully clean that area. Sometimes, I even remove the license plates to ensure everything is free of grime, but that’s just me. Hint: You may need to change the water in your bucket and add more soap at least once.
- At this point, examine the clean car for stuck on bugs and tar. Following the instructions on the bottle of bug and tar remover, spray on those stubborn areas. Then, wash off as directed. Rinse and repeat if necessary.
- Carefully dry the vehicle with microfiber towels if desired. This avoids watermarks and spotting. This works especially well on anything that is chrome to prevent spots and streaks. As a bonus, the chrome will sparkle!
- Open the doors and clean the door jambs and seals with a wet rag or microfiber. Then, use the Quick Detailer applied to a microfiber towel to clean and shine the area.
- Clean the windows and mirrors with Invisible Glass Window Cleaner (not in direct sunlight or if the glass is hot to prevent streaking).
- Apply tire foam, if desired. Doing so gives the tire a nice shine. Again, follow the instructions on the can for safety precautions.
- Wax the vehicle. I prefer using a spray wax in between the twice a year paste wax application because it is easy and effective. Simply spray on (again start at the top and work down), wipe with a microfiber cloth, and buff with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. You will probably need to change these out for fresh ones once or twice (it all depends on the size of your vehicle). Hint: For best results, move the vehicle into the garage or shady location before waxing.
Cleaning the Interior
- Remove absolutely everything from the inside of your vehicle. Don’t forget the console, glove box, cubbies, and trunk. Then, shake the dirt out of floor mats and set aside. I always have a box and a trash bag available for this step.
- Using a damp microfiber, begin removing dust from the dashboard, doors, storage compartments, air vents, and control panel. Rinse the cloth and repeat as needed.
- If you have a steamer, use it to clean and sanitize surfaces. This time-saving piece of equipment will blow dust out of the tiniest nooks and crannies while simultaneously cleaning and disinfecting. I use a microfiber cloth to wipe the area immediately. If you aren’t using a steamer, you can get into small areas with common household items such as cotton swabs and toothpicks.
- Vacuum the seats (I recline them) and floors, moving seats all the way forward and backward to clean the entire floor. (Don’t forget about the floor mats you removed). This way, you can access the hard to reach areas.
- Use a steamer and portable carpet and upholstery cleaner to lift stains from the car mats, carpet, and upholstery. Caution: Do not saturate the seats with water, because you want to avoid it getting down into the foam. For leather seats, use a quality leather cleaner.
- Using a good interior spray cleaner and a microfiber cloth, clean and protect your dash and interior. Hint: Spray directly onto your microfiber cloth and then wipe the surface to prevent overspray.
- Clean windows and rear view mirror with Invisible Glass by Stoner. Read this for more details. Ammonia free glass cleaner is very important to prevent damage to your window tint.
- After the carpet is dry, vacuum one last time to remove any remaining dirt or dust particles.
- Once your interior is completely clean, replace the floor mats.
- Remember the box of stuff you removed? Now is a good time to assess what you really need to put back into your car. Organize the items and only keep what you need. Make sure your vehicle registration and insurance information are easily accessible and up-to-date. Tip: If you don’t already have a small first-aid kit in your car, consider adding one.
Things to remember:
- Microfiber does not leave behind lint and locks in the dust. It is a magnificent cleaning tool. For care instructions see “Sunshine, Birds, And Crystal Clear Windows.”
- I use higher-end products because the results are amazing! The cost difference is well worth the investment. The best part is, these supplies are still reasonably priced.
- Please, please, please do not use dishwashing detergent to wash your car because it can harm the paint.
- Many products are available to make your vehicle shine. I also recommend a plastic restorer, to keep any black plastic on the exterior of the vehicle looking new.
- Some vehicles are equipped with air filters that need to be changed once in a while. Check your manual to see if yours does, and change it as recommended to improve the indoor air quality.
- If you have plastic or rubber floor mats, do not apply any dressing or protectant that would make them slick. You don’t want your foot to slip when controlling the pedals!
- Use caution if you are cleaning the headliner. I never use steam on it because I don’t want to loosen the adhesive. Spot clean gently as needed. Most importantly, do your research before tackling the headliner.
- Wax comes in many forms. Whether you prefer a paste, liquid, or spray, protecting your vehicle is the key. Some last longer than others. Therefore, the application process may be more time-consuming with a more durable wax.
- Sometimes, I divide this job into two days depending on the amount of work involved. That way, it is less overwhelming.
- Regular washing is key to keeping any vehicle protected and looking new.
After all your hard work is done, you can sit back and enjoy the shine of your like-new vehicle. You should be proud of the effort you put into it and the money you saved doing the job yourself! Now that you have the supplies and the know-how, keeping your vehicle clean will be a piece of cake. If you have questions or comments on any of this information, please contact me because I would love to hear from you!
Until Next Time,
April
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