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Cleaning Your Vehicle in 6 Easy Steps

Everyone likes to admire their vehicle after it has been freshly washed, but have you thought about what else washing your car thoroughly and regularly does for it? Washing your car regularly will remove dirt, dust, and debris that could damage your paint job. It also helps prevent rust from forming on the body of your car; this is especially important in the wintertime when salt and sand from the roads can build up on your car and cause damage. In the winter months, we recommend washing your car weekly or bi-weekly at minimum.

Washing your car regularly is not the only factor to consider when working to prevent damage to the body of your car; washing your car thoroughly is also important. Pulling through the automatic car wash drive-thru is the easiest way to get your car clean, but it’s often not the most valuable way. Automatic washes can miss spots that need extra attention. Here are some tips on how to wash your vehicle effectively:

1. Hose down your vehicle – it’s important to start washing your vehicle by using water to hose off all the dirt, dust, and debris from it. Remember to get into every nook and cranny, including into the wheels.
2. Soap it with a dedicated car wash product – find a car wash soap at your local hardware store to soap your vehicle and use a large car-safe sponge to apply the soap. Use one bucket of soapy water and have a second bucket of clean water to rinse off the sponge regularly. Work from the top down as the lower body of your car will have the most dirt and move the sponge lengthwise across the body of your vehicle. We also recommend using a separate sponge for the tires and wheels to ensure that no rocks get into your vehicle’s body paint.
3. Rinse the car off as soon as you can – try not to let the soap dry onto the car so rinse it with water as soon as you can to prevent streaks. Rinse the car thoroughly to ensure that all of the soap has been removed. When rinsing, work from the top down so that all of the soap will run off the body of your vehicle.
4. Dry off your vehicle with a microfiber cloth – air drying your vehicle can leave streaks and spots behind so use a microfiber cloth to gently dry your vehicle. Don’t wipe the vehicle too much or too hard as you may scratch your paint.
5. Use a clean sponge to wipe the insides of your doors – the lower inside panels of your car can also get salt and sand accumulated in it from your shoes. Make sure to clean this part of your vehicle to prevent damage and rust.
6. Vacuum the inside of your vehicle – make sure to shake out your vehicle’s floor mats and hose them down to remove any salt, sand, and debris. Then you should vacuum out the entire interior of your vehicle.

Once you’ve completed all 6 steps, you’ll be able to admire your vehicle and feel assured that your car will stay in great shape for many years to come.

Remember that our team at Integra Tire is always here to help with any of your vehicle questions. If you see damage or rust on your vehicle, come ask our experts to find out how we can help you.

 

Questions? Our Advisors are Happy to Help!

If you have questions about anything you've read in this resource page, contact your nearest dealer for more information. We are passionate in assisting our customers make the best choices to keep their vehicles in tip-top shape and keep their families safe.

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