Do you clean your car at home or do you go to the petrol station and get it done there?
Many of us struggle to find time and money to get our cars sparkling. A motor expert has shared his top tips on the car cleaning habits you should follow to save money this Spring.
While there are many online tutorials and recommendations on getting your car gleaming some of them can do more harm than good.
Ben Custard, Motorpoint expert says they “might seem harmless” but you have to “treat them with caution.”
He said: “Most of the tips and hacks popular online haven’t come from an expert – meaning there’s no guarantee that they’ll work, and they could even cause permanent damage to your vehicle.
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“For example, if you do damage to your car’s interior or upholstery, it can be expensive to repair and, in some cases, might require costly replacement parts. Any damage to your vehicle will have a serious impact on its resale value, so it really isn’t worth taking any risks.”
So it may be worth doing some research before you go and clean your vehicle with products that are safe to use.
If you’re like us and don’t want to fork out on expensive car cleaning then a good option is to clean the motor at home.
Thankfully you don’t have to purchase any expensive products.
Custard said: “All you need to start washing your car at home is just a couple of buckets, noodle wash mitts, microfibre towels, glass cleaner, car shampoo and maybe wheel and tyre cleaner. Some car shampoos can also be used on your tyres, so it’s worth checking before you buy both.
“Once you’ve got these essential products, you’ll be able to use them several times – meaning the overall cost of cleaning your car at home will be much less than paying for a valet or heading to an automatic car wash.”
Another product some people may think is good to use cleaning your car is washing-up liquid but despite it cleaning your dishes you may avoid using it for your vehicle.
Custard advised: “If used over a long period of time, it can affect the finish of the paint and, in some extreme cases, lead to cracks that will require the panel being refinished.
“I’d also avoid using washing-up liquid when cleaning your car’s interior as it can be difficult to remove from upholstery without excessive water, which could leave you at risk of mould.
“When it comes to major touchpoints, like the steering wheel and infotainment system, a dry micro-fibre cloth is more than enough to remove dust and grease.”
