5 Essential Tips for Keeping Your Car in Pristine Condition

How often do you actually put in the effort to clean your car and leave it looking great, beyond just driving through a car wash once in a while (if that!)?

Chances are, not often!

Because unlike an MOT or service, maintaining your car's appearance won't affect its performance, at least not at first.

But did you know that bird droppings left uncleaned on your car can cause permanent damage to the paintwork? And that continually treading old food and rubbish into your interior can leave it unsalvageable?

And what happens when you come to sell it on a few years down the line, or try to return it to the lease company? You'll likely receive considerably less cash!

But not to worry, we've come up with some top tips on keeping your car in good condition.

1. Car Wash Basics

You should be cleaning your car every month to keep it in tip-top shape, or more frequently if you live in a dusty area or by the beach.

The basics are simple:

• Wash your car with a hose to get rid of any loose dirt.
• Use car shampoo and a wash mitt to wipe the car down. Always use proper car washing soap and not something like washing up liquid, which can damage the paint.
• Hose it down again.
• Clean the wheels with non-acidic wheel cleaner.
• Use a cloth to dry the car off and avoid unsightly streaks.

Once clean and dry, it's important to protect your vehicle's exterior surfaces, including glass, paintwork, and wheels. Then your car will have a show-winning shine that will last for weeks.

1. Get Glossy With It

Now that you've washed your car, consider adding a layer of shine with a little gloss. This will give your car a silky smooth finish, improve color depth, and help reduce dirt build-up, making it less of a pain to clean next time!

We recommend a quick-drying gloss. You simply mist it onto a microfiber cloth and lightly wipe it over the car surface before swapping to a dry cloth and gently buffing. Not so difficult, really!

1. Give the Car a Once Over

After you've finished cleaning your car, it'll be easy to spot any scratches or oxidation in the paint, so you can decide if you want to tackle those at this stage.

But some things aren't so easily visible.

If you haven't properly removed all the gloss, or there's any dirt remaining on the bodywork, you'll easily spot it by running your hands over the surface.

Not only is it a point of pride to feel your handiwork, but you'll also be able to give it another wash or buff out any gloss before you've packed everything away.

1. Lights & Mirrors

Don't forget about your wing mirrors and headlights. Cleaning these may not make your car look any flashier, but it will make it much easier for you to see in front and behind you.

Window cleaner works really well for this. Give it a spray and then wipe with a cloth, and you'll notice an immediate difference. Or, consider using an anti-fog cleaner to not only clean but also prevent fogging.

1. No More "Sorry About the Mess"

Finally, keeping the inside of your car presentable can be as simple as vacuuming any debris on the floor and seats, giving the hard surfaces a once-over with a wet wipe, and airing out those floor mats.

However, if you want to go the extra mile, there are loads of products on the market to keep your interior fresh, even if you're rocking a leather interior!

So there you have it, our stress-free guide to keeping your car looking its best. Remember, a little effort now can save you a lot of hassle down the road.