Guy washing Car

Image by Brad Starkey is licensed with Unsplash License 

 

With spring blossoming around us throughout the Hanover area, the time is right for freshening things up. While spring cleaning is a well-known routine for your home, this isn't the only place where you spend a lot of time. Spring clean your vehicle as well so you have a fresh, welcoming space for your daily commute and regular errands. Banish the grime of winter and get ready for a fresh start this season.

Clean the Undercarriage

Your vehicle's undercarriage can take a beating over the winter months when you're cruising over slush, salt, and dirty snow. This is especially true if you're driving an intrepid Jeep Wrangler or Ram truck that forges ahead over any obstacle. Even city driving in Hanover can leave you with a coat of road salt, though, so your spring car cleaning should always start at the undercarriage. 

The best way to do this at home is to use a power washer with an undercarriage attachment and a specialized cleaning solution designed for this purpose. Alternatively, you can crawl under the car and use a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar to break down salt buildup and wipe it down by hand. If these options sound too tricky, a professional car wash can tackle the undercarriage part of the cleaning process.

Rinse Your Vehicle

Thoroughly rinse your vehicle before you begin the more intensive washing process. A good spray with the garden hose on a warm spring day will banish the winter grime built up on your vehicle, so you have a fresh surface to start detailing.

Wash the Exterior

After a good rinse, your car is ready for a more detailed exterior cleaning. Use warm water, a car wash solution, and a microfiber cloth or car wash mitt. Wipe the car down in circular motions to remove lingering grime. Use a stiff brush to clean the tires and hubcaps, then wipe them down with a separate cleaning cloth. Rinse the car with clean water. If it runs clear, you've done the job right.

Dry the car body with a clean microfiber cloth to avoid water spots. For a gorgeous shine that will have your Pacifica gleaming in the school pick-up line, finish off with a layer of carnauba wax applied in small circular motions and buffed off with another microfiber cloth.

Clear Out the Interior

Once the exterior is clean, you can safely crawl inside your vehicle to clean it out without trekking salt or dirt in. Clean out any trash or unneeded belongings cluttering up the car. If you're safely past any potential freeze in the Hanover area, you can remove winter essentials like your ice scraper, shovel, and road salt. 

When you're finished with the entire cleaning process, you may want to stock your vehicle for spring. If you have a spacious Grand Cherokee, you'll have plenty of space to store things like folding chairs for soccer games throughout the season.

Wipe Down Hard Surfaces

Lightly dust the surfaces in your car. Use a soft brush for infotainment screens and other digital displays. Go over small dusty openings around the edges with a can of compressed air. 

Use an all-purpose interior car cleaner and microfiber cloth to wipe down hard surfaces inside your vehicle. This includes the door panels, dashboard, and center console. Use distilled water or a screen cleaner and a separate microfiber cloth for digital screens.

Vacuum Seats and Floors

Thoroughly vacuum the interior of the car by going over all surfaces with a stiff brush to agitate dirt and dried salt and a vacuum hose to suck up the mess. Remove floor mats to shake them out and wash or vacuum them separately. Use a crevice attachment on your vacuum cleaner to get between car cushions and deep into the recesses of your vehicle. Take the time to fold seats flat and vacuum the hidden areas you can only see when you reconfigure your vehicle.

Treat the Carpet and Upholstery

Salt stains are almost impossible to avoid in the Hanover area. Get rid of these unsightly white marks with a 50/50 mixture of warm water and white vinegar. Spray this liberally over any carpet or cloth upholstery with salt stains and let the liquid soak in for two or three minutes. Press a cleaning cloth over the stain to pick up the loosened salt crystals. Rub lightly if needed, but don't agitate the stain too much or you'll risk damaging the material. Blot the area with dry towels to remove any excess moisture.

If you have a steam cleaner, you can go over cloth upholstery and carpeting with this for a deep cleaning. If you're using more low-tech methods, dissolve half a teaspoon of liquid dish soap in warm water and apply with a clean cloth to any remaining stains. Rinse any damp spots with clean water and soak up the moisture with a towel or wet-dry vacuum.

If you have leather upholstery, apply leather conditioner using a microfiber cloth to both clean and rejuvenate the leather. Only use cleaning agents that are specifically formulated for leather. Plan to recondition your leather seats every two to three months for the best results.

Clean the Glass

Finish your spring cleaning with bright windows and windshields so you can easily see the blossoming Pennsylvania landscape around you. Use a glass cleaner that's formulated for vehicles so you don't damage the tint on your vehicle. Working from the top down, apply the window cleaner with a microfiber cloth. Apply the glass cleaner in circular motions, then use a separate cloth to dry the glass in long smooth motions.

Schedule Spring Maintenance

Spring is also the perfect time to schedule routine car maintenance like an oil change and wheel alignment. If you're rolling on winter tires, now is the time to swap them out for an all-season set. Change your air filter as well for a fresh approach to spring. Contact our team at Ciocca CDJR of Hanover to schedule your maintenance now.


 
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