How do I keep my new car looking new?
A car is a big investment and repairing it can cost a lot of money, which most people don’t want to spend. To avoid costly repairs, it is important to keep your car clean and well maintained. Keeping a car clean takes much more than just cleaning the surface of your automobile. In this article, we share 12 tips to help you keep your car as good as new even after years of use.
Top 12 Tips For Keeping Your Car Looking New
Here are 12 tips to keep your car looking new:
- Stay on top of your car’s maintenance
- Keep the interior clean
- Don’t spray cleaning products directly on the car’s surface
- Hand wash your car
- Occasional waxing
- Use clay bars
- Clean the windows the right way
- Keep your car in the shade
- Keep your car dry
- Apply an anti-rust treatment
- Do not go overboard
- Monitor your car’s paint
1. Stay on top of your car’s maintenance
Car maintenance might sound tedious but it’s actually not that time-consuming. A little check-up once every two weeks is much better than being trapped at the garage with a mounting bill. The constant maintenance of your car can extend the life of your vehicle significantly. To fall into the habit of caring for your car, start with setting a cleaning day once a month.
2. Keep the interior clean
It’s very common for people to forget to clean the interior of their car when they take it for cleaning or when they clean it at home. However, the inside of the car is where people sit, eat, etc. It is just as prone to getting dirty as the outside of your car. This is why it’s important to vacuum your car from the inside at least once a month.
3. Don’t spray cleaning products directly on the car surface
We see it everywhere, especially in advertisements, people spraying cleaning products directly on their cars. This practice is very harmful to your car’s exterior and interior as these products can damage in excess quantity because of bleaching agents. You need to take a cleaning towel, spray your cleaning product on it, and then use the towel to clean the car. This will minimize the damage from the product and keep your car clean.
On top of this, some products that contain bleaching agents can leave stains on your car. These stains can also decrease the market value of your vehicle when you want to sell it. To avoid all of this, simply use a towel instead of spraying the product directly onto the car.
4. Hand wash your car
People sometimes prefer hand washing their car rather than taking it to a cleaning shop because they do not trust others with their car. However, experts say that in some cases, hand washing your car can be more dangerous. Most people do not know the right way to do it, and sometimes the sponges used are filled with grit that can scratch the surface of the car.
If you don’t know how to clean your car properly, it’s best to take it to a professional cleaning service. Otherwise, if you do not want to take your car to a cleaning shop, there are many videos available on YouTube that can teach you how to do the job properly. A pro tip is to use a microfiber cloth to clean the surface of your car rather than a sponge. Sponges tend to be sterner and can scratch the surface of the car very easily.
5. Occasional waxing
Using wax can add an additional layer of protection to your car, while also making it look dapper. However, if you do not use the wax properly, it can damage your car rather than protect it. When using wax for cleaning the exterior and interior of your car, follow the instructions on the product to provide additional protection to your car from UV radiation.
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6. Use clay bars
Your car does not require all the modern products to look slick. Clay bars are handy because they can clean off the grit from surfaces such as tires just as they can clean the car. After you scrub the surfaces with the clay bar, use a clean towel to clean your car. Be gentle while scrubbing the clay bar to avoid damaging your car’s paint.
7. Clean the windows the right way
Your windows can easily be scratched so it’s important to learn the right way to clean them. According to experts, you should take a clean towel and spray the product on it, and then use circular motions to clean where you see stains. Rubbing the surface of your car’s window without any purpose will add scratches to it.
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8. Keep your car in the shade
Cleaning your car with expensive products will be of no use if you do not keep it in the shade. Just like anything left to the environment, your car can get damaged if you do not keep it in the shade, protecting it from the sun and rain. If you do not have the luxury of a protected parking place, you can use a car protection sheet instead. The sheet will keep your car safe from rain, UV radiation and bird droppings.
9. Keep your car dry
If you can keep your car dry, this will significantly reduce the odds that rust appears. If you spill something in the car you should dry it with a blow dryer, especially in winter. Similarly, when you wash your car mats, make sure that they are completely dry before you put them back inside the car.
10. Apply an anti-rust treatment
When acquiring a new car, you should ask the sales agent if the car was given an anti-rust treatment. Although most new cars do not require an anti-rust treatment, certain car manufacturers do not properly protect their undercarriage.
Anti-rust treatments prevent your car from getting rusty. Rust can accumulate due to moisture, so if you live in a country with lots of rain and snow, an anti-rust treatment will provide additional protection to your car. Antirouille Champlain’s paraffin and grease treatments are the most effective on the market. Carefully studied and constantly improving since 1972, this treatment will protect your vehicle against rust.
11. Do not go overboard
Yes, keeping your car clean and well maintained is important, but you should adopt a balanced approach. Car wash soap can damage your car paint because of its bleaching agents. This is why you should take care of your car once a month.
12. Monitor Your Car’s Paint
If you start noticing some scratches on your car, you can take it to the automobile shop for a car detailing service. The professional detailers will fix the little scratches and dents without causing damage to your paint. Scratches on a car’s paint can quickly become the perfect spot for rust to take hold. When you notice an anomaly on your car’s paint, take notice of it and apply a rust-proofing agent to the scratched area.