New cars often look and feel special. After a couple of years, though, they can start to age. That takes a lot of the glamour out of driving your beloved car, even if it’s still relatively young. These four tips will keep your car looking like new for years.
Tip #1: Park Your Car in a Garage
This is one of the most important things that you can do to keep your car looking as attractive as it did the day you drove it off the dealership’s lot.
By parking your car in a garage, you protect it from the elements. As long as you have the protection of a garage, you don’t have to worry about:
- hail damage
- bird droppings
- falling tree limbs
- vandals
- berries that can cause stains
If you have access to a garage, use it.
Tip #2: Wash Your Car Regularly
There’s nothing you can do to stop your car from getting dirty. Your daily commute exposes it to all kinds of nasty things like pollution and dirt. Washing your car regularly (once a week is perfect) will remove dirt and other unwanted items before they can stain the paint job. To get the best results, learn the proper way to wash your car. Always follow these steps:
- Choose a shaded area
- Rinse the car before washing
- Choose a detergent specifically designed for cleaning cars (that means no dishwashing detergent!)
- Use a soft microfiber rag
- Start at the top and work your way down
- Give the car a final rinse to remove soap and leftover dirt
- Towel dry to prevent water spots
Tip #3: Clean the Car’s Interior Regularly
If you really want your car to keep its appearance, then you need to make sure the inside stays clean, too. That means a thorough cleaning at least once a month. Once a week is even better. Make sure you get all of those crevices where dirt likes to hide. If you don’t have a vacuum attachment that lets you access hard-to-read places, consider buying one. It will make your job a lot easier.
Tip #4: Don’t Eat in Your Car
A hectic lifestyle might make you feel that you have to eat on the way to work or while running errands. By doing that, you put your car’s interior in jeopardy. Just think about how many times a hamburger has dripped ketchup on you. Now, imagine that it falls on your car’s seat instead. You can’t take that to the cleaner. If you know that you will eat in your car, keep a stain remover accessible. At least you can minimize the damage by preparing for drips.
No car can last forever, but following these tips will help you feel proud of your vehicle while other owners start to think about buying something new.
Share this post
