Fall Car Care Month isn’t just about your engine and mechanical maintenance, but every aspect of your car. We’re sharing some of our Must-Do’s for fall car cleaning that will not only leave you feeling happier driving, but we’re sneaking in some items that will protect the longevity of your vehicle too. Fall is the best time give your car a good cleaning as the weather is not too hot, not too cold and you can appreciate the outdoors at the same time.
Show some love to your car’s exterior:
Wash – Wash all the exterior grime off with mild car shampoo.
Dry – Towel dry versus air dry to avoid rivulet streaks. Use a microfiber towel
Coat with a protectant -. A careful cleaning, followed by a coating of wax or sealant (synthetic wax product), will help protect the paint job against the ravages of winter. It also helps keep salt and road gunk from doing too much damage to your paint job.
Super clean your windshield – Use a microfiber towel and glass cleaner, then treat it to a coat of Rain X. Rain X helps with frost, rain, and bug debris.
Get stubborn bugs out of your grille (and off of your bumper) – WD-40 is a low-cost option and you may already have some in your garage. One of its listed uses is to remove bug splatter on cars. It won’t damage your paint job and does a great job. Make sure to wax the area when you’re finished and avoid using on your car’s body.
Windshield Wipers – Wipers get dirty. Wipe them down with a wet lint-free cloth saturated with rubbing alcohol. While you’re there, inspect blades for and cracking or curved blades. If they look bad, replace them before winter hits.
Interior Deep Cleaning:
Clean Your Vents – after using your air all summer, vents can become dusty. You can use a foam brush or paint brush to dust your vents and then use a vacuum cleaner to suck up the loose debris.
Cabin Filters – Remove and replace your cabin air filter to get rid of stinky smells.
Vacuum – Move all seats forward and pull out floor mats to get into every nook and cranny. Remove kids car seats to vacuum behind them. Crumbs and crayons always end up in the hard to reach areas. Consider investing in some car organization cubes for trash or to house kids toys and books within their grasp.
Winter Mats – Now is a good time to put in some heavy-duty winter mats to catch all the salt and slush winter brings and protects your car’s carpet.
Check Your Brakes Pedal Pads – Make sure your brake pedal pads are secure and in good condition, a slipping or worn pad can be a driving hazard especially if your foot slips when braking.
Clean Vinyl and Leather – Use a Magic Eraser to scrub sticky grime off of vinyl and leather or if the dirt has embedded itself into the textures of your seat, use a new toothbrush with some mild dish soap.
Remove Pet Hair – Have you ever tried to vacuum pet hair? It seems to defy suction and will not come up. We have a solution, use a spray bottle of water and a squeegee. The hair rolls off, and your seats will look like new. You can also invest in pet seat covers if Fido makes a regular appearance. They make seat covers for kids too.
We hope you found these tips helpful and will save your wallet from car detailing services. A clean car creates a happy distraction-free driving experience, and it gives you the opportunity to check your vehicle for signs of wear. Winter is coming fast, make sure your car is ready with our Fall Maintenance Package, which includes oil change, testing and charging of the battery, testing heating system, rotating and balance of tires, and bumper to bumper visual inspection for an unbeatable $69.95. Call 845-628-7900 or schedule your appointment online today.