You can achieve a near professional standard at home for less than £20
CAR experts have shared an easy seven-step process to recover a “new car” shine and smell before summer – including a bacteria-busting air con hack.
With just around an hour’s effort every few months, you can keep your motor in showroom fresh condition all year.
As heavy rain and thunderstorms mix with sunny spells across the UK, it’s still not too late to get your car back in shape before the hot weather rolls in.
The team at Bristol Street Motors shared their top tips for cleaning out your vehicle and getting it as good as new ahead of the summer months.
1. Preparation is key
The first step is to prepare your car for a deep clean by getting rid of loose rubbish and anything that could stop you reach parts of the vehicle.
Pick up any litter like wrappers, tissues or bits of paper that could make it harder to see the wood for the trees.
Items like car seats or tool kits can also be removed and stored inside the house while you set about your work.
Bonus tip: Take out your floor mats and put them through the washing machine on an intense cycle – by the time it finishes they should be ready to go back in.
2. Pre-wash
Before you get into the intensive stuff give your paintwork a quick pre-wash to get it ready for the cleaning process.
All you need is a few buckets of warm water or a pressure washer or hose.
Apply some car shampoo, available for as little as £5 at Halfords, to the bodywork and rinse it off.
For best results, repeat two to three times.
3. Dry brush dirt
Once you’ve done your pre-wash you can turn your attention to the interior.
Before vacuuming, make sure to take a sturdy brush and give the seats, floors and dashboard the once over.
This will loosen any dirt or dust that has gathered on the car’s surfaces, which can then be hoovered up – helping you achieve a deeper clean.
A spare toothbrush is also a good idea to access the nooks and crannies where dirt loves to hide away.
4. Interior clean
Having done the prep work both inside and outside the car, you can get on with the heavy work.
Wipe down every surface inside the car with a clean microfibre cloth until they sparkle.
The best thing to do is apply some specialist car cleaner beforehand but all-purpose cleaning spray or anti-bac will usually suffice in a pinch.
Just make sure that when cleaning windows you use products which are designed for glass so there are no smudges and streaks left behind.
And if you’re struggling with tough stains a little baking soda will often get them right out.
Sprinkle a pinch on the affected area and leave it be while you clean the rest of the car before vacuuming it up at the end.
5. Exterior clean
This is probably the most intensive part of the whole cleaning process – but yields the most visible results.
Take a soft sponge or microfibre cloth and soak it in soapy water (or car cleaner mixed with water).
Then wash down every part of the exterior in gentle circular motions, including the bumpers and door handles.
Always be sure to keep a second bucket on hand to rinse your sponge or cloth so that the cleaning solution isn’t contaminated.
For extra shine, you can pick up a bottle of car polish for under £5, apply a thin layer and buff it out with a dry cloth.
6. Air con hack
The “new car smell” is almost universally beloved by car owners but can seem to fade within weeks of driving your motor out of the dealership.
Thankfully, a simple bit of air con maintenance can restore it in a matter of moments.
Many drivers might not be aware that bacteria and debris can build up in the air con system, especially over winter, leading to unpleasant odours.
Consider having your air con treated and regassed at your local garage once or twice a year to combat the problem.
Not only will that banish musty odours and leave your car smelling fresh, it will also make your air con colder on sunny days and prevent damp and mould in your car.
7. Keep it up
Finally, perhaps the most important part of the cleaning process is to maintain the finish.
It’s much easier to do a mini clean every once in a while than try and get it all done at once after months of neglect.
There are also a couple of cheap hacks to make it easier to keep up the good work.
For example, you can make your cup holders easier to clean by lining them with silicone cupcake moulds.
Seat covers are also a good idea as they can be put through the wash, rather than requiring hard work scrubbing away with the scourer when little ones drop food and drink.
