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To many, a car is a like a second-home. We spend a lot of time in our cars commuting daily to work, dropping the kids off at school, running our weekend errands, or even making those midnight supper trips. So, just like how it’s important to keep the home spick and span, it’s also essential to keep your car clean, neat and comfortable. Other than making an occasional trip to a car-grooming specialist, here’s how you can regularly maintain a clean and sleek-looking car with these car cleaning tips.
Before you get started, make sure that you have the right products for the job, so check the labels on all your cleaning products carefully. For example, a chrome wheel cleaner is very acidic and can wear out an aluminium wheel. So, take note of what products work best for your car.
Pro tip: Always use proper car shampoos and polishes, and avoid using laundry detergents or harsh soaps which could damage the car’s paintwork. Shop for suitable car cleaners, waxes and polishes at Selffix DIY and Home-Fix The D.I.Y Store.
Using a hose, give your car a general rinse to get rid of loose dust and mud. Then, apply some car washing solution on a cleaning mitt or sponge, gently scrub the exterior to get rid of stubborn dirt, and rinse off the soap suds.
Pro tip: Wipe the car over with a wet cloth after completing the basic wash. Avoid using a dry cloth or duster.
Visit Selffix DIY to get the Simple Green Wash & Wax ($10), a specially formulated solution that gently and safely cleans the toughest dirt, grime and grease. Get chamois wash cloths from Japan Home, Daiso and NTUC FairPrice.
Polishing helps to smoothen out small surface imperfections such as scratches, spotting and oxidation, while waxing helps to enhance and protect a polished surface. Just like sunscreen, waxing also protects your car from harmful UV rays, preventing colour fading and maintaining a glossy finish that will give your car a brand-new shine.
Although you should be using two separate solutions to polish and wax, you can combine both steps with this nifty Black and Decker 6-inch 152mm Car Polisher/Waxer. Polish the car with the high-performance Wool Bonnet, then apply car wax with the Wax Applicator Bonnet and leave all the hard work to the machine!
Pro tip: Check your owner’s manual to see what type of polish the manufacturer recommends, and wax your car in a shady and cool spot, as surrounding heat may cause the paintwork to streak.
Get the Black and Decker 6-inch 152mm Car Polisher/Waxer for $69 at Selffix DIY.
It’s always handy to keep a small vacuum cleaner in the car boot so you can do a quick clean when food crumbs or debris get unexpectedly left behind on the seats or mats. It’s also good to give your car a thorough vacuum regularly. Be sure to remove the mats and vacuum the carpeting below in order to get rid of all the dirt that settles in the carpet’s fibres. Also, slide the front seats forward so you don’t miss all the hard-to-reach spots.
For easy manoeuvring and effective cleaning, check out the Philips MiniVac Handheld Vacuum Cleaner. With brush and crevice tools in small and large sizes as well as a long hose tube, this gadget will help you to tackle all the difficult areas of your car.Another nifty cleaner vacuum to consider is the Black and Decker Pivot Auto Car Vacuum, a cleaner with a pivoting nose that has 10 different settings. It also comes with a flexible hose and upholstery brush so you can easily remove pet hair or daily debris from car seats.
Get the Philips MiniVac Handheld Vacuum Cleaner for $149 (U.P $209) from Best Denki and the Black and Decker Pivot Auto Car Vacuum from Selffix DIY or Courts. Check in-store for prices.
Your car’s air vents are like magnets for dust and it is impossible to fully wipe these tiny spaces with a cloth. So, here’s a simple trick – use a paintbrush and dab its tip into a small amount of furniture polish. Use the paintbrush to reach deep into the air vents, getting rid of dust from each blade.
Last but not least, a comfortable ride always smells good. So, get an odour remover and spray the solution on the car’s seats, door panels, carpet and ceiling. Turn the fan onto its highest setting and switch the system to the recirculate mode. Spray the product into the system’s opening and let the odour remover circulate for a few minutes to completely absorb all unpleasant smells. Fill your car with a naturally refreshing scent, such as the Mossif3, a 3-in-1 solution made of natural herbal formulas that works as an air freshener, aroma therapy and a mosquito repellent.
The Mossif3 Twin Pack, $11.90, available at Selffix DIY.
So, there you have it – 6 tips and tricks for a clean and great-looking car! Don’t forget to maintain your car’s tidiness by committing to a cleaning routine, de-cluttering regularly and getting accessories such as car organisers to help you store your essentials neatly.
P.S. If you’re not a car owner yet, it’s never too early to start taking notes, because you could be driving home a spanking new Volkswagen Touran when you take part in our lucky draw! Here’s how you can win a brand-new set of wheels from now till June 2018:
