The essential guide to giving your car a spring clean

With Spring just around the corner (well, hopefully), and the long Easter weekend upon us, what better time to give your car a deep clean? Over the winter months, vehicles can easily become dirty and unkempt both inside and out. If, like most people, you only give your car a proper sprucing-up once or twice a year, then now’s the time to put in some extra elbow grease and get it back in tiptop condition. From the mats and mirrors, to the dashboard and bonnet, you can make sure every nook and cranny has been thoroughly washed, wiped and scrubbed. This is also the perfect time to do some basic maintenance checks to make sure your vehicle is ready for the road. 

So, if you’re thinking about giving your wheels a spring clean, this simple guide should provide you with some helpful pointers.

What you need

First things first, you’ll need to make sure you have all the essential cleaning items on hand. If you haven’t already got them, you can purchase car shampoo, chamois cloths, sponges and window cleaner from most garages or petrol stations. If you want your car to have some extra shine and protection, you may also want to purchase some polish or wax. When washing your car, ideally you’ll have access to a hose pipe or pressure washer, and a carpet cleaning machine if possible. Of course, a good old fashioned bucket of water and detergent will also do just fine. If you’re going to do a maintenance inspection - and we recommend you do - make sure you have your owner’s manual at the ready too.

The interior

As most drivers will know, the inside of your car can easily become dirty, especially during the winter when shoes constantly bring in mud and debris. Before hoovering the carpets, make sure you take out the mats under each seat and give them a good shake to get rid of any loose dirt. If you want to shampoo your carpets and upholstery, try to choose a warm day when they will dry quickly. However, before doing this it’s a good idea to check for any existing wet patches on the carpets, as this can be a sign that rainwater is getting in. If you do find a damp area and you can’t figure out where the water’s coming from, take your car to a professional who will be able to locate the source of the problem and fix it. 

Next, it’s time to give the interior surfaces a wipe down with water. Take care to remove any dust from the dashboard while avoiding getting any electronics wet. It’s also worth cleaning the inside windows with glass cleaner, including the rearview mirror, and to jettison any junk from the compartments (do you really need those receipts from 2013?). Also, if you’re are still displaying your old tax disc, you can now remove this as its no longer necessary to display a tax disc so you can clear some clutter on your windscreen. 

You may also want to give your boot a clear out by getting rid of any mess that has accumulated over the winter and giving the carpet a vacuum.

The exterior

When it comes to the exterior, start by hosing down the car with warm water and soap, beginning at the roof before making your way down to the wheels. Pay particular attention to the wheel arches, as this is where most of the dirt and grime from the road tends to gather. In some cases, a quick hose down won’t be enough and you’ll need to remove the hubcaps and scrub the tyres more thoroughly. If you find that some of the mud won’t budge, try leaving it to soak for a while. 

Once you’ve rinsed off the soap and let it dry, you might decide that you want to add a polish or wax to give the paintwork an extra sheen. Use a chamois cloth to apply the product while following the instructions on the packaging. If you’ve never used the wax or polish before, it’s worth trying it out on a small, hidden section of the car first to see if it works. If you notice any chips, scratches or rust while doing this, remember that it’s always better to deal with these problems now rather than later, as the damage might get worse with time. 

It’s also important to pay attention to the exterior windows, which will have no doubt collected a fair amount of grime over the winter. Use a glass cleaner and then buff them with a dry cloth, including the wing mirrors. 

Finally, don’t forget to check under the bonnet. You can remove any leaves, twigs or other debris yourself, or take it to a garage to have the engine professionally cleaned if it looks particularly dirty.

Maintenance checks

When cleaning your car, it’s also worth taking the time to do some quick maintenance checks and to look out for any signs of damage that might develop into more serious problems in the future.

Start with your tyres, including the spare, keeping an eye out for any cuts, bulges and tears. You should also make sure that your tyres have enough tread. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, but many motor specialists recommended going no lower than 3mm. Don’t forget to check the tyre pressure too. If you’re unsure what pressure your tyres should be, look inside the driver’s car door, fuel flap or owner’s manual. If your tyres do appear to be worn or damaged, you’ll need to get them replaced right away. Also, if you’re using winter tyres, now’s the time to swap them back to summer versions. 

Other checks you should do include topping up or changing the oil if needed and making sure that all interior and exterior lights are in good working order. You may also need to buy new windscreen wipers after the winter months. 

By giving your car a deep clean and carrying out basic checks now, you can make sure that it not only looks great for the coming months, but that it’s also functioning and performing at its best. Once you’re done, you can enjoy a well-earned rest this Easter. But if you run into any problems with your car, don’t forget that our centres are open throughout the Easter period. View our Easter opening times.