When you're cleaning any car or truck, much less a winter-weather-beaten one, begin with removing all the junk you've been neglecting. Have a trash bag and a "keep" box handy, because you will want to hang on to some of the things. Be thorough: Get below and beside the seats and in the trunk.
Vacuum the Interior
You'll want to work from the top down, mainly because the law of gravity dictates that stuff stirred up works its way floorward. Additionally, yank out the salt-caked floor mats for a quick pass with the vacuum cleaner. Then use a house or shop vac and a stiff tool like a screwdriver to work dirt out of the creases.
Scrub Carpet and Upholstery
This step is optional but worth the gratifying results. Grab a spray bottle of automotive-upholstery-and-carpet cleaner and a sturdy scrub brush to wash the soft parts of the interior. Spray the seats or anything cloth covered; scrub, then wipe down. Repeat a minimum of one more time, moving to the carpet for the same task. Being exhaustive with the carpet is really important, as it can behave like a filthy, salty, damp rag that increases rusting. When you're done, pull the drain plugs under the flooring and let things air out for several days. You'll certainly be amazed at how much better your car smells.
Power-Wash the Floor Mats
The floor mats are unquestionably the parts of the inside that take winter abuse the worst. If you have got all rubber floor mats, they will not take very long to clean, but carpeted mats will probably take two passes with a power washer to get all the salt and dirt out. Without having a power washer, Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center advises that you use one at a self service car wash. Let the mats dry out thoroughly before placing them back into the automobile or you could be begging for mold growth in the carpet.
Tip: Old Tool, New Trick
When cleaning out door and body drain holes, we've found out that the best way is to repurpose a plug-installation tool utilized in tire repair. Cut up an old shop rag or sock and put it into the slot of the tool exactly the way you would a tire plug. The set-up will make dragging out dirt and plant matter very easy, and the fabric scrap is very easily swapped out whenever it becomes grimy.
Ditch Winter Windshield Wipers
Wipers get beaten up pretty bad in the winter, and torn-up old wipers in a summertime rain storm will leave you blind.
Lube the Hinges
Hit every door, trunk, and hood hinge with white lithium grease to stop squeaks and early wear.
Clean the Windows
Ever notice how your windows fog up really bad during the course of damp spring weather? Part of that has to do with how filthy the interior of your windscreen is, but you are able to take steps to avoid this. First, wash your windows with a good car-window cleanser; the ammonia in household stuff makes the fogging even worse. Fog has a tougher time clinging to a clean surface, and you are able to go a step further by wiping down the inside of the glass with an antifogging agent.
Wash the Automobile
There are several intricacies. As with the interior, you need to clean the vehicle from the top down, rinsing regularly. Do not start at the rocker panels and proceed to the roof—it drags dirt about and scrapes the clear coat. When the body is clean, invest a few dollars at your neighborhood automatic car wash and get the underbody flushed. This will dislodge the road salt that's doing all it can to turn the underbody into Swiss cheese.
Replace the Cabin Air Filter
This filter keeps dirt, pollen, and plant matter from entering the ventilation system. It gets dirtiest during the fall, when falling leaves work their way into the cabin-intake system.
Put in a bag of sand, gravel, or kitty litter to the trunk as ballast to improve traction in tricky conditions and to have something to throw beneath the tires when the automobile's stuck in the winter. But come spring, get rid of the bag and various other winter gear to improve fuel economy and free up space.
Wipe Down the Entry
Scrub door sills to keep your pants clean, and dust off any nooks forgotten in a car wash. Wipe door seals with mineral oil or utilize silicone spray to ensure that they're supple.
The qualified technicians at Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center can give an in-depth “spring cleaning” program for any car or truck in Maryville, Edwardsville, Troy, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, and Highland, Illinois , which includes paint touch-up, dent and scratch repair, and more, all at an affordable price.
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