When you own a car, it can quickly feel like your second home. You drive to work, go out with friends and explore new neighborhoods – all in the same car. You may love your car, but the downside of having such a close relationship with your car is that it’s also one of the dirtiest places you regularly spend time. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to keep your car clean at all times and reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning it. Several minor maintenance tasks can keep your car looking its best for longer. Follow these six tips to keep your car clean from the inside and extend its life by keeping it nice and tidy.
Replace your air filter regularly.
The air filter in the engine of your car should protect the moving parts from dust and dirt. While replacing the air filter may not sound like a glamorous maintenance task, keeping your car running smoothly is an essential one. It is estimated that a clogged air filter can reduce your car’s fuel efficiency by up to 10%, so changing the filter regularly will save you money. Your car’s air filter will also need to be replaced more frequently if you regularly drive in dusty conditions, so it’s important to check your car manual for how often this should be done. If you want to extend the life of your car, you should replace your air filter every year. The exact interval will depend on the model of your vehicle and the recommended replacement interval for the cabin air filter.
Wash your car at least once a month
Cars are generally an easy item to forget when it comes to cleaning. The process of washing your car is relatively simple, but it does take time. Depending on the size of your car and the type of cleaning product you use, cleaning your car can take up much of your weekend. When choosing a cleaning product for your car, make sure it is one that is recommended for use on cars. Most car washes are full of harsh chemicals that can damage your car’s paint. The best time to clean your car is in the fall, when you also need to replace your windshield wiper blades. Then when you clean your car, it gets a deep clean for the winter months and gets a clean,
Protect your upholstery with a stain-resistant coating.
Cars are full of fabrics, especially on the inside. Your car’s upholstery is an excellent place for dirt and stains, especially if you have young children in your life. Protecting your upholstery with a stain-resistant coating is an easy and affordable way to keep your upholstery clean. Most fabric car upholstery is treated with Scotchgard, a popular fabric protector available at most fabric stores. This is a great product for keeping your upholstery clean and looking great in between regular cleanings, and it’s easy to apply. The coating is sprayed onto the fabric, allowed to dry and then brushed off. Over time, the protector will wear out.
protect your tires and rims with a rubber/vinyl protector
Your car’s tires and rims are two parts of your car that are regularly exposed to the elements. When wet they can be particularly fragile, so protecting them with a rubber/vinyl protector can help keep them clean and dry. While there are many products on the market that claim to protect your tires and rims, you want to make sure they are designed for your specific car model. Many manufacturers produce specific tire/rim protectors for each car brand. You can apply tire/rim protectors by spraying them on clean tires and rims and letting them dry before riding. Make sure that no product gets on the painted surface of the wheel.
Keep a lint roller in your car.
Cars are full of little nooks and crannies, but luckily most of them are easy to clean. One of the trickiest places, however, is the console. The console is a great place to store your car’s essentials, but it can be a magnet for lint and grime. Protecting your car’s console is very simple: keep a lint roller in the console. They are small and portable, so they don’t take up much space. You can also use the lint roller to clean shift covers and pedals in your car. Another trick to keep your car lint-free is to park your car with the back to the sun. This helps to shed fluff naturally. It’s also a good idea to keep the console lid closed when not in use.
Don’t forget the hidden parts of your car.
Your car is full of surfaces that require regular cleaning, but there are also a few that don’t get much attention. One of the most overlooked parts of your car is the engine. Cleaning your car’s engine regularly is an essential maintenance task that can easily be forgotten. The best time to clean your engine is the time of year when you are doing your other car cleaning tasks. At the end of the fall season, take the time to thoroughly clean your car’s engine. It will be a good warm up for the winter, and it will keep your car running smoothly all year round. There are a few different ways to clean your engine, but the most important is to use a clean cloth.