We Reveal Our Top Inexpensive Car Grooming Hacks

Maintaining your car’s appearance and keeping it clean used to be simple. Nowadays, there are all sorts of car cleaning products available, it can be a bit of a minefield even knowing where to start. You can find a mind-bending array of car cleaning supplies, from brushes, cloths and sponges to a vast range of car shampoos, interior and wheel finishes, waxes and polish for the paintwork, and even different options for detailing clay.

We have offer a range of products we feel is necessary for the home detailer wanting to spend the time getting their car looking and staying pristine.

Here are 10 inexpensive car grooming hacks to help maintain the appearance of your car:

Tip #1: Dusting down the centre and dash

Carry a microfibre cloth in the centre armrest or glove box compartment, over the course of a week or so the interior gathers lots of dust and dirt. A simple wipe down, no products needed, lightly wipe down the top of your dashboard and centre console in between grooms to maintain a clean and dust-free environment in your car.

Tip #2: Clean top to bottom

Most DIYers start cleaning the interior by vacuuming the carpet. The mistake is you’ll just get it dirty again when you move on to cleaning another area. Instead, start off but dusting and cleaning the dash, centre console and seats, can use a microfibre and interior cleaner. Once this is tidy, finish off by vacuuming the lower part of the seats, crevasses and carpet areas.

Tip #3: Move the seats around

You'll be surprised by what you find behind the seats. We have found all sorts below and around the seating area, everything we find we place in the centre cup holder. Vacuum the seats, remove the mats and vacuum the carpet. Use a brush attachment for the dash and door panels, while vacuuming the front, push the seats all the way back, then when cleaning the rear seats, push front seats all the way forward. Don't forget to clean out and vacuum those handy door pockets.

Tip #4: Cleaning vents

These louvres are a real magnet for dust, and a vacuum with a brush attachment just won't get it all. Take an inexpensive artist's paintbrush and give it a light spray with interior cleaner. Work the brush into the crevices to collect the dust. Wipe the brush off with a rag and move on to the next one.

Tip #5: Tackling stubborn marks

To attack the stubborn or sunblock marks from plastics or leathers, use our interior cleaner and dirt erasers. A light spray of interior cleaner on the sponge, then agitate the stubborn marks with the eraser and wipe excess off with a microfibre cloth. You will be amazed by how effective it is at removing sunblock marks!

Tip #6: Don’t wash in extreme heat

Clearly, if it’s warm you’ve got to work quicker with parts of the car drying faster than normal. But extreme heat will affect the strength of the chemicals in the products you’re using, too. If it’s sunny and you feel it’s a hot day, it’s best to wait till the evening or wash the car in some shade. You will want to avoid the water drying on your paint and glass as this can cause water spots.

Tip #7: Wash with the right suds

Even though hand dishwashing liquid is a great degreaser, it's not the thing to use on your vehicle's paint! It sucks important oils right out of the paint's finish causing the paint to fade and clear coat fail earlier in the car’s life. It is important to use automotive soap while washing the car, once you've mixed the suds, go one step further—fill a second bucket with clean rinse water. Use it to rinse the wash mitt often. That'll remove most of the road grit from the mitt to prevent scratches.

Tip #8: Deep clean your paint

Over time, your car’s paint collects a lot of contaminants parked and driving around. Regular washing removes the surface dirt, but clay-barring is the only way to pluck out the embedded stuff. While you’re washing the car, rub your hand over the panel to gauge how contaminated it is, if you can feel lots of small bumps over the panels, then it’s time to clay-bar. We would recommend doing this every 6 months or so.

Tip #9: Polish vs Wax

Many car owners confuse polishing with waxing, but they are separate steps. Polishing removes small surface imperfections and scratches in the finish restoring the clarity in the paint and its shine. Waxing adds more gloss and protects the finish from the elements. Most DIYers skip polishing because they don't want to invest the money in a polisher, but polishing your vehicle's paint is the key to achieving the best gloss.

Tip #10: Clean glass

Ever notice that line of grime on the tops of windows when they're partially rolled down? Most people overlook this detail when giving their vehicle a quick wash. A few minutes with glass cleaner and a clean microfibre is all it takes.

If you would like to learn more car grooming hacks or have any questions, get in touch or flick us an email, we are always happy to help lead you in the right direction!