Discover the best car cleaning tips with expert knowledge from JML! Get professional results with our step-by-step guide and handy tips:
When it comes to cleaning your car, you have two options: Either take it to a car wash or do it yourself. Of course, if you are short of time, then the car wash will always be easier, but if you do it yourself, you can guarantee it will be cleaned, inside and out, to a standard you’re happy with. You can also save some money. Once you get your car spotless, you’ll never want to go back to that old, dusty, dirty, cobweb-covered look, and with regular cleaning, you’ll be able to take a little pride in your ride!
When is the best time to clean your car?
Working outdoors is always easier when it's warm, so summer is the best season. Strong sunlight, however, can be a problem when it comes to polishing and waxing your car as it can have detrimental; effects, so choose a shaded spot where your finish can dry and cure in its own time. If the sun is too hot, then use that time to clean inside your car or just give the paintwork a hose down and save the polishing and waxing for another day.
How to clean your car from start to finish
Cleaning up the rubbish
Start by picking up loose rubbish, debris and coins. This reduces the risk of blocking your vacuum cleaner with toys and wrappers and prolongs the cleaning process.
Cleaning the floor mats
Rubber Mats:
- Remove mats from the car.
- Use a hose or pressure washer for initial cleaning to remove thick dirt.
- Wash with soapy water and leave to dry whilst the rest of the car is being washed.
Carpet Mats:
- Use a carpet cleaner and brush for deep cleaning and remove deeply embedded dirt.
Vacuuming the interior
- Using a brush, dislodge dust and grit from corners and creases.
- Vacuum up the loose first after brushing.
- Lugging your vacuum cleaner outside can be a pain, it’s good to invest in a handheld vacuum cleaner perfect for cleaning your hard without the hassle of wires and heavy lifting.
Making the dash and trim shiny
Use a microfiber cloth for dusting and cleaning. These will create a static charge that attracts, and holds onto, dust.
Hosing down from top to bottom
- Now it’s time to hose down the car with plain water to remove the top layer of dirt.
- To avoid re-cleaning, start from the top and work your way down to the sills. Remember to let gravity do the work for you.
- Using a car cleaning foam is another great option. Car cleaning foam targets the grime and road contaminates on your car’s paintwork and loosens it safely. Platinum Amazing Foam is a top car cleaning foam to use on your car – simply apply, and then hose down.
Now it is time to get your hands dirty (and your car clean)
- We recommend using a car shampoo, bucket, and wash mitt.
- Using a two-bucket method, for clean and dirty water, helps preventing scratches by keeping any grit from going back onto your car as you scrub.
Scrubbing the wheels
- Wheels collect dark, sooty brake dust from the roads, added to the intricate designs of many modern alloy wheels makes them difficult to clean properly.
- Because of this, we suggest using tougher cleaning products specifically made for wheels.
- Even though it is meant for working at a height, using a tool like the Starlyf telescopic hydrocleaner gutter brush is a great accessory for cleaning car wheels, allowing you to get into all those nooks and crannies easily (of course, it’s also great for cleaning your gutters).
Dry with a microfiber towel
- Microfiber towels are incredible for drying and general on cars because they soak up so much water for their small size, so you can dry your car quicker and with far less effort than holding, and wringing out, a huge towel. They also reduced risk of scratches to paintwork because of the size and softness of the fibres.
Polishing and scratch removal
- Wax is a sealant, and polish is a treatment. Polishing comes first to remove dirt and grime from your finish. Once completed, many different types of waxes might be applied and buffed for a fantastic final shine.
- Polishing removes imperfections and gets rid of dirt, grease, scrapes and scratches using veery fine abrasives that can be washed off.
- Although polishing can be done by hand, it’s time-consuming and requires a lot of effort. Our machine polisher takes all the hard graft out of it.
Protect all your hard work and effort
- There are various types of protection for your car’s paintwork: waxes, sprays, liquids, pastes etc. They all do a similar job by protecting that clean paintwork beneath.
Using a product such as the Platinum Amazing Foam Rain Protect can shield your car from rain and even keep your windows clear in the wet. Speaking of windows…
Last but not least, the windows
- Windows need to be cleaned differently inside and out. Inside will involve removing condensation and smears from wiping. Outside will involve dirt, grime and rain marks.
- We recommend using a window cleaning spray and a microfiber cloth.
- Don’t forget to also clean the headlights, taillights and indicator covers for improved brightness.
Keeping your car clean doesn't have to be a long and difficult process. With these few simple steps, the right cleaning products and some regular maintenance, your car can look brand new no matter how old it is or how many miles it is done. Of course it's not just cars that benefit from being kept nice and clean. Why not check out our huge range of cleaning accessories to keep every part of your home looking its best?