For many, buying a new car is exciting. Remember that feeling when you first brought home yours? It doesn’t even matter if it’s a luxury car or not. As long as it’s new and it’s something you’ve long dreamed of having, there’s always eagerness and pride that come with the purchase.But like everything else, eventually your car will age. You just can’t keep buying a brand new vehicle every time your current one no longer looks like it came straight out of a showroom. There are more cost-efficient things you can do to keep your car looking fresh no matter how long you’ve had it.
While taking good care of your car will take time and effort, it’ll surely be worth it. Here are a few maintenance tips you can try today:
- Remove Any Splotches ASAP
To help keep it look brand new remove Bird poop, fallen fruit, and tree sap. They can leave stains on your car’s exterior if left alone, and they’re unsightly. It’s best to wipe them off as soon as you spot them anywhere on your vehicle. If you allow them to dry up and settle down, they can be harder to remove. Moreover, depending on what caused them, these may even leave marks.
A gentle microfiber cloth with water and mild soap is enough to get rid of splotches if you get to them early enough. Better yet, if you don’t have a garage, you can avoid tree sap, animal droppings, and even dust from accumulating on your car while it’s parked outside by protecting it with a car cover.
- Clean And Organize Your Car
Imagine agreeing to your workmates ridesharing with you this week only to remember that you haven’t been able to even wipe down your car in the past month.
Fortunately, it doesn’t take forever to clean and organize a brand new car. However, things can go downhill if you keep putting off the task, so make it a habit to remove garbage, leftover food, clothes, baby toys, and similar objects that aren’t supposed to be stored in a vehicle. Your car isn’t a closet, and it certainly isn’t a trash can.
If it’s an absolute must for you to keep things in your car all the time (for example, you have a hectic schedule or you’ve got children), you don’t need to purchase expensive organizers to keep things tidy. Even as simple as using Ziploc bags for documents and chargers will do.
- Wash It Regularly
This doesn’t have to be a daily task since washing a vehicle that often will cause its exterior to undergo wear and tear more quickly. You should aim to give your car a good wash at least once a week if you use it every day. That way, you can clear it of any dirt and grime it may have been exposed to throughout the week.
If you don’t have the time for it or if you want a more detailed wash, you can take it to the nearest car wash instead.
- Don’t Forget The Interior
Cleaning your car’s interior is of utmost importance as well. It’s not enough to have your vehicle looking brand new plus slick and shiny on the outside because your passengers would have to get in the car at some point. You wouldn’t want them to breathe in dust and end up sitting on food crumbs during the entire ride, right?
Pay close attention to the seats as the accumulation of dust can damage leather or vinyl. Especially if you’ve got kids as passengers, it’s a good idea to wipe down and vacuum the seats once or twice a week.
- Replace Your Floor Mats
Car floor mats are among the parts of a vehicle that go through the most wear and tear. Think of all the bacteria, germs, and dirt that shoes bring inside your vehicle.
If the floor mats in your car are holding on for dear life, it’s time to replace them. Car floor mats can be found almost anywhere and aren’t that costly, so there’s no reason not to gift your car with new ones.
- Apply Products On The Cleaning Cloth
When you’re cleaning your car, don’t make the mistake of pouring either commercial or DIY cleaning agents directly on its surface. Doing this will only damage it. A better way to go about it is to apply the products on the towel or cloth you’ll use to wipe your brand new car. This will give you more control over where the substance goes and how much of it you’ll use. Cleaning agents that have spilled onto a big surface can also be troublesome to clear up.
Conclusion
With these tips, you can keep your car looking as shiny as the day you bought it. Maintaining its luster, after all, goes beyond washing its exterior. Cars can last a long time as long as they receive the TLC they need. Go ahead and start following these pieces of advice so you can keep your vehicle looking sharp for years to come.