How to keep the shine in motoring So how do we keep our 4 wheels looking spick and span, and forecourt new? Well, there is the carwash. But they can hold all numbers of hidden perils, so the best way to keep your car looking good, is the old fashioned way. Time to get out the bucket and sponge.
Make sure you use reasonably warm water and a good car shampoo. Many of the shampoos on today’s market actually contain a waxing agent too, which well help give extra protection to your car’s bodywork. DO NOT use household washing up liquid – it contains a strong stripping agent for removing grease and could harm your paintwork.
Once you’ve finished washing and rinsing your car, it’s time to ‘dry’ it. Use a chamois leather to remove any unsightly watermarks. Although genuine leathers are somewhat expensive, cheaper synthetic alternatives are available and do the job just as well.
Now it’s time to open the polish. Once again, today’s automotive cleaning manufacturers offer a bewildering array of choice – you can even buy colour-coded polish for your car! Apply the wax or polish with a damp cloth, concentrating on relatively small areas at a time. Begin with the front wing, then move onto the front door, then the rear door…etc. However, before moving on to each section, take the polish off with a clean cloth and buff to a shine. That way the wax won’t harden, which makes it difficult to buff off. Avoid polishing your car in hot, direct sunlight. The polish simply bakes onto the paintwork.
Now what really makes a car look clean are shiny black tyres. Easily achieved with aerosol tyre blacking – which works brilliantly on bumpers and trim too.
With the exterior of your car sparkling, it’s time to get the interior fresh and clean. And again, there are plenty of products on the market to help you. From dashboard trim shine to carpet and upholstery cleaners. But one of the best things to remove unwanted stains is a steam cleaner – be careful though, they get hot!
So, in only few hours you can stand back and take pride in your shiny pride and joy. Alternatively, if you haven’t the time, or the inclination, you could always pay a car valet to do it for you.