When it comes to buying a used-car, one of the first things people notice is how clean or dirty it is. No one wants to buy a car and think they’re sitting in the accumulation of someone else’s filth. So whilst cleaning your car may sometimes feel like another chore you don’t want to do, it does actually pay to keep on top of it.
Added to that, studies show that the average Brit spends around 9 hours each week in their vehicle. And as no one wants to spend 9 hours in an unpleasant space, it’s in your best interests not to let it turn into a dumping ground.
Here are a few hints and tips to help you keep your car sparkly clean.
Don’t let things accumulate
Be strict with yourself that every time you put something into your car, you remove it at the end of the journey. Don’t let yourself store things in your car overnight. They’ll quickly build up making it a bigger task to clear it further down the line. On top of that, frequently driving around with an increased weight load could actually be damaging your vehicle as the added weight will lead to greater wear and tear on your tyres and suspension.
The cupcake trick
If your cupholders are anything like ours and regularly full of crumbs and other random bits of unknown materials, there’s a simple trick you can try to save you having to regularly clear them out. Take a silicone cupcake case and place it in the bottom of each one. That way, the case will collect everything that gathers in the bottom making it much easier to clean.
Snack sensibly
Avoid snacking in the car completely if you can. Especially whilst driving. But on longer journey’s opt for car-friendly snacks — things like chocolate with the potential to melt and sugar-covered sweets are best avoided. And do try not to leave any rotting apple cores lying around. Which leads us to our next tip…
Get a car bin
This one is a particular must if you have children or regularly go on long trips. It only needs to be something small and you can find ones online that attach neatly to the back of your armrest between the driver and front passenger seats. It might sound a little extra but you’ll thank yourself later; and probably wonder what you did without one.
Waterproof seat covers
An absolute must if you have dogs. After long muddy walks in the countryside you’ll be saving yourself hours of cleaning time by investing in a cover for your back seats. There are plenty of different options out there, but all easily detachable and relatively cheap so definitely worth the cost.
Stay on top of interior cleans
Many of us are guilty of only cleaning the outside of our cars and regularly leaving the interior. But as that’s the part you experience the most it really does deserve a little more attention. Get yourself some specific car-cleaning products and spray on to a cloth to clean the insides of your doors and armrests. Avoid spraying anything onto the dashboard in case it leaks onto the electronics below. And remember not to use any product on your steering wheel and pedals so you don’t make them slippery.
So there are our best hacks to keep your car clean. Do you have any tips you’d add to the list? Let us know!
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