5 Tips to Clean Your Car for the Season

The term spring-cleaning can be used at any time of the year to signify giving your car a clean and fresh feeling so that you can enjoy your ride.

Whether you’re preparing your car for the upcoming season or it truly is springtime and you’re ready to have a nice clean car for warmer days, these tips can help.

Shake off the winter blues and look forward to longer days and warmer weather, you may feel the urge to do some cleaning. After a long, grimy winter, your car could definitely use a little TLC. A thorough spring-clean should be a part of everyone’s vehicle maintenance routine. And so here are a few tips to get you started.

1. Clean the interior

Tackle your car’s interior by lifting up all the floor mats, give them a good shake and wipe them clean. Then discard any trash that’s accumulated on the floors and remember to check under the seats. Empty the trunk of winter-related gear and any trash that ended up there. Vacuum the whole interior, including the trunk and seats, and wipe seats down with a wet cloth. It’s also a good idea to clean the interior windows for improved visibility.

2. Wash and wax the exterior

After months of salt, mud, and dust your car could use a makeover. So give the exterior a good clean starting with a car wash and finishing off with a wax. As well as giving your car a good shine, wax, which comes as a liquid or a spray, will also strengthen the paint. Don’t forget to clean all the headlights and mirrors and use a separate sponge or cloth to clean the wheels and tires. Alternatively, you can take it through a car wash or pay to get it done by hand.

3. Change the cabin air filter

The cabin air filter keeps the air inside your vehicle clean. It’s usually located behind the glove compartment or under your vehicle’s hood or dashboard. Its job is to filter the air that comes through the HVAC system, to stop pollutants, such as pollen and dust, from entering. This is especially important if you suffer from seasonal allergies. Experts suggest replacing the filters every 15,000 to25,000 miles or once a year. You can either try to do-it-yourself or have it done by a mechanic, which usually costs under $100. As well as improving air quality this could also prevent an expensive repair –the A/C has to work a lot harder to clean dirty air.

4. Check all fluid levels

To make sure everything’s in good working order check the fluid levels of your car. These include oil, radiator fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, air conditioning coolant, and washer fluid. If you’re not familiar with checking fluid levels, either have someone experienced help you or research online for information, as you need to be careful about when to check (does the engine need to be cool for instance,) and what kinds of fluid to use in your particular vehicle. You can also consult your car manual.

Replace your car’s wiper blades

With April showers on the way, it’s maybe time to replace your wiper blades. Snow and ice can cause a lot of damage to your wipers, so check them for signs of cracking, tearing, and corrosion. Replacing your wipers is an easy and inexpensive fix that will ensure you will always see clearly, even though the worst downpours.