Spring Fling - Washing Away Those Winter Blues
So the threat of snow is finally past, and most of the road salt has dissolved. You’re thinking spring! You’ve ended things with your winter cuffing boo and you say YES to warmer air, longer days, and riding down the highway with the windows down and the radio up! But your ride is still wearing January’s dingy overcoat. Ugh. A good, thorough cleaning of your car, inside and out is most definitely in order. Washing your car is a pretty easy DIY for any driver. Some people love to break out the shop vac, scrub brush, bucket, cloths, and wax to make their “baby” shiny and clean while others prefer the quickie wash-and-vac or have the extra cash for a full detail.Whichever #sheCANic you are, it’s time for April showers to wash this winter away. Make sure you read these Girls Auto Clinic tips for your car’s spring make-over.Start with the interior. You want to get all the winter dust, salt, sand, and smell out of the car. Remove all the trash and empty out the center console, door pockets and cup holders.Wipe down the windshields, dashboard and touch screen displays of loose dirt and dust. Microfiber towels works great for the dash. YOU’LL WANT TO SPRAY THE CLEANING PRODUCT ON THE TOWEL, NOT DIRECTLY TO THE DASH. Those who have sprayed directly to the dash can share their pain of permanently damaging the dash. If your vehicle has a touch screen, check out touch screen wipes, or the same products you would use to clean your smart phone.Wipe down, spot clean, and vacuum the seats, floor mats, and floor. If you take your car to a wash-and-vac place you’ll likely have to spot clean after. A full detail should include spot cleaning the interior.Ok. The interior is taken care of so it’s on to my favorite part! Washing the exterior of the car! Time to get wet and a little dirty, #sheCANics. A thorough washing of the car’s exterior is great exercise on a nice sunny day! Make sure you are washing away the salt and sand of the winter that is also on the under carriage of your car. The under carriage is the supporting frame under the body of your car.Salt loves to hide underneath the car. The easiest way to take care of it is going through a drive-in car wash and requesting an “undercarriage wash.” Check out our blog Salt Corrosion On Cars; You Can’t See It, But It’s There which explains the importance of an undercarriage wash after winter!Now is also a great time to take your car into your mechanic to check your car’s health after the harshness of winter. Winter driving and potholes put extra stress on your car’s suspension and brake parts!
- Get your oil changed if needed.
- Replace your air filter if it’s dirty.
- Check your other fluids – brake, coolant, washer fluid, power steering, and transmission.
- Get a fluid flush if necessary (how to know when to get a fluid flush).
- Check the brakes, suspension and tires for wear or damage and if an alignment is needed.
- Check the windshield wipers and replaced if they are damaged.
Now, you should be all set for summer! Is there a better feeling then sitting in a newly cleaned and healthy car? Grab a “new car smell” air freshener to seal the deal! Who’s ready for outdoor happy hour?
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