Our Favorite Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Car This New Year

Spring has arrived, and with the winter weather long behind us, it’s time to start cleaning up those trouble areas that need extra care after harsh conditions. Your vehicle is susceptible to increased wear and tear during the winter months. Salt-treated roads, slush, ice, and the cold air all work together against your car or truck, and if left untreated, can cause more than just aesthetic problems. At U-Pull-&-Pay, we understand taking care of your car isn’t always about what’s under the hood. Start your year off in the right direction with our checklist of places you should be spring cleaning your car as you revive it from the depths of winter.

Exterior Cleaning

Perhaps one of the most important things you can do for your car after winter is wash it off. If you live in an area prone to heavy snowfall, you likely know the familiar crunch of driving over salted roads. This road salt gets kicked up into your car’s undercarriage and can lead to rust or corrosion if not immediately washed away. While rain will naturally wash away some of the road salt, you will need targeted spraying action beneath your car to ensure no road salt is left behind in sensitive crevices. When it comes to spring cleaning your car, we always recommend doing this first.

Restoring Headlights

Watching your vehicle’s headlights gradually fog up and dim over the years feels like an inevitable part of owning a car, but did you know your headlights can actually be restored? Introduce headlight restoration as you begin spring cleaning your car. Most professionals recommend a combination of polishing as well as sanding. By first sanding and washing horizontally, then sanding and washing vertically, you prime your headlights for polishing. This buffs out scratches that accumulate with age on the top layer of your headlights. Finish off with a polishing compound. Some automotive stores even offer headlight restoration kits for a more convenient fix.

Inspecting Rubber Components

Sometimes, spring cleaning your car isn’t just about the cleaning. Extreme cold breaks down the structure of rubber materials like windshield wipers, tires, and weather stripping. Once the weather warms up, it is always good practice to inspect your car for any possible wear and tear that might escalate to a more expensive problem if left untreated. Evaluate your tire’s tread depth and check your brake pads for signs of wear and rust.

Interior Cleaning and Detailing

Regardless of the season, the inside of a vehicle often becomes a catch-all if you lead a busy life. Spring cleaning your car’s interior can boost your mood and help you focus on your commute. There are several components of cleaning your car’s interior, including:

• carpets
• seats
• leather and vinyl
• touch screens
• the interior windshield

Each of these require a unique approach with different cleaning products. As a general rule of thumb, avoid any cross contamination between these five components. What is safe for one part of your car might break down the materials of another. Professional microfiber cloths are a great product for cleaning any part of your car and are typically inexpensive. A handheld vacuum, a lint roller, garbage bags, cloths, ammonia-free glass cleaner, dish soap, and 70% alcohol, are all products you will want in your arsenal for spring cleaning your car.

Let’s Work Together

Spring cleaning your car has never been easier! With our advice, you will be well on your way to refreshing your car inside and out in just an afternoon. Once you tackle the cleaning, you may find yourself venturing into other replacement projects, especially after a harsh winter. Let our experts at U-Pull-&-Pay help you find everything you need to get started on your DIY auto repair projects. Come with questions and leave with expertise on restoring your car on a budget.