Clean your car like an expert: the tricks you’ll want to know about

The trade secrets to getting dirt, dog hair and grime out of those hard-to-reach tiny gaps next to your car seats. Read on.

Dog hair in between your car seats can be painful to get rid of.

Your car is your home on wheels and it deserves a spring clean too. Somehow it is easier to ignore it when the car is a mess, than when the lounge room looks like a tip. Remnants of flat whites long drunk, a confetti of fast-food debris, a smattering of discarded school homework, a variety of wardrobe choices for the whole family and oh yes, a top coat of dog fur. And how does the duco attract so much gunk? Is it magnetic? All you need are some tips from a pro, a trip to the auto shop to stock up, and a jumbo pack of microfibre cloths.

First, get your cleaning products right.

GET THE WASH RIGHT

“A car is an extension of your home,” says Dave Bui, director of Schmicko Car detailing. “In fact, some people spend more time in their car each day than they do with their family.” So, let’s take care of business starting with an all-over spray down from the garden hose on jet, or if you have one, a pressure washer. Do NOT use dishwashing detergent in the wash bucket. “Dish detergents are abrasive – they’re designed to get baked-on food off metal surfaces,” says Dave. Instead invest in a car shampoo, and there’s a big choice – Dave says just make sure it says ‘Ph neutral’. Don’t use a sponge (also abrasive), use a microfibre cloth or, a shaggy mit. And even though it’s a tippy toe start, begin at the roof and work your way down. Then power rinse and dry off with another microfibre. Windows? “Don’t use the Windex, it can ruin the tint,” says Dave. You can use water with a wet and dry cloth in most cars, but if there’s a ‘haze’ get a hold of auto window cleaner. Oh, Dave says do it in the shade, and when the car is cool.

Always a problem, cup holders can get very dirty...

INDOOR SOLUTIONS

Blue Tac on a coffee stirrer will get stuff out of cracks and cup holders. Use a rubber carpet rake head to get all the dog hair and other debris out of the carpet, then vacuum. Get a can of carpet cleaner and go over the carpet. This is particularly important if there’s an invisible bad smell. Cloth seats need vacuuming too (take a handful of $2 coins to the petrol station and go nuts) and while Dave isn’t a fan of steamers (‘Hand steamers are hit and miss – you can get by without one’), you can treat it the same as the lounge at home – Vanish laundry spray has saved a few disasters in my time. If the black plastic (window switches, indictor sticks, dash etc.) is looking dull, the rejuvenator you used on the exterior may work here too. Do a test strip. This is an unofficial tip – I’m sure purists would cringe. Leather seats are scary – but a leather seat conditioner will help remove dirt and moisturise the seat. There you have it; exfoliated, cleansed, moisturised and eyeliner applied.Your car is good to go.

Wax on, wax off.

TOP COAT
“People get confused between polishing and waxing,” says Dave. “Really a car needs a polish maybe twice a year and is best done by a pro.” You’ve been warned. So be careful if you do this yourself and don’t be tempted by Clay Bars which, again, are for the experts or those who have time and money to spare. Waxing can be done relatively easily and delivers a great result. Cars have a lot of black dress strips, which can become dull and even grey. A great facelift trick is to treat them with a wipe-on rejuvenator – the effect is fantastic. If they’re very grey the result is reduced – but you can buy (not inexpensive) a ‘blacking’ treatment for maximum effect. In extreme cases, Dave says he can dye them back to life. It’s like eyeliner – just sets off the look. Wheels require knuckles of steel, or a soft wheel brush. Go with the brush and mit for the knuckles.Use the same detergent, and get all that brake dust and road rubbish gently off them. Top off the good work with a tyre finish spray. Perfect.

Originally published as Clean your car like an expert: the tricks you’ll want to know about