Is Your Ride in Need of a Refresh? Here's How to Clean Your Car like a Pro

After a long winter, summer road trip, or regular daily use, chances are your car needs a thorough cleaning. There are many reasons to clean your car's interior and exterior. It prevents odours and stains, inhibits rust and blemishes, protects the finish and more. Maintaining your car properly also helps with resale value.

Learn how to keep your car clean and looking good as new with the right tips and techniques.

Car Interior Cleaning Tips

Your car needs a regular cleaning to keep it looking its best. From kids spills and pet hair, to coffee stains from your morning commute, a messy car happens. Here's how to clean the inside of your car.

Car Washing Essentials

Before you get started cleaning your car’s interior, make sure you have these items on hand:

• Hand vacuum

• Car glass cleaner

• Towels

• Protectant

• Cleaning wipes

• Upholstery cleaner or leather cleaner

How to Clean Your Car Seats, Carpet, and Mats

Soft surfaces like seats, carpet, and mats can accumulate crumbs, spills, and dirt. Follow these tips for a sparkling clean car interior:

• Remove the floor mats. Shake them off then wash with soap and water and let dry before replacing

• Thoroughly vacuum the vehicle's carpet and seat upholstery. Use the vacuum attachments to get into tight spots

• For leather surfaces, use a soft cloth and leather cleaner (or a small amount of dish soap and water) to remove dirt and stains. Follow it with a leather conditioner to keep the material soft

• For fabric surfaces, spray with an upholstery cleaner and scrub with a stiff brush to loosen dirt and stains. Wipe excess moisture and let dry. If desired, apply an auto fabric protector like this one to repel spills

• Wipe down the steering wheel, console, and gearshift with car cleaning wipes. This kills germs and creates a good-as-new finish

Tackling Hard Surfaces and Hard-to-Reach Areas

Next, tackle interior 'hard' surface cleaning. This includes surfaces like windows, touch screens, dashboards, and cup holders.

• Clean the interior windows with a car window cleaner. Apply the cleaner directly to the paper towel or a soft cloth. For best results, use one cloth to apply the product and another to wipe it down

• Clean vents, seams, and cupholders with a damp toothbrush or small paintbrush

• Wipe remaining hard surfaces with a microfibre cloth and car cleaner or cleaning wipes

• Gently wipe touch screens with a damp microfibre cloth and cleaner suited to sensitive electronics, like this one

• Apply protectant to the dashboard with a microfibre cloth. This helps prevent cracking and fading from UV rays

Exterior Car Cleaning Tips

Regularly washing your car's exterior helps to maintain its new-car look over time. It's important to clean your car properly to avoid scratches and marring. Discover the best way to wash a car and keep your ride looking sharp.

Car Washing Essentials

Before you get started, grab the items you'll need to get the job done. These include:

• Bucket

• Car wash soap

• Rim cleaner

• Tire cleaner

• Towel

• Washing mitt/sponges

• Hose

• Tire Shine

• Wheel brush

How to Wash a Car

Proper car washing helps to prolong the life of your car and increase its resale value. You'll prevent rust and blemishes and maintain a shiny finish. Here's how to wash a car correctly:

• Use a dedicated car wash product designed for use with automotive paint. Fill your bucket with soap and water

• Rinse the car down with your hose, focusing on the dirtiest areas to remove loose dirt and debris

• Once rinsed, using a sponge or cleaning mitt, apply the soapy water to the car's body. Wash the car from the top down. Move the sponge lengthwise as circular motions can scratch the exterior

• Once washed, rinse the car with water a final time to remove all soap

Product Tip: Consider a bug-and-tar remover for the wheel wells and lower edge of the car's body where stubborn build-up can occur.Cleaning Tip: If you drop the sponge or get dirt on it, rinse it before continuing to prevent scratches to the paint.

How to Clean Your Car Rims

It's a good idea to wash the wheels first and refill the bucket when you're done. This prevents dirt from transferring to the car's body and causing scratches.

• Wash with soapy water. If this doesn't do the job, use a suitable wheel cleaner

• Clean the tires with a stiff brush to get out tough dirt

• Clean the rims from the bottom up, spraying rim cleaner in a horizontal motion

Cleaning Tip: Use a different brush for the rims and tires, as they often retain dirt that can mar the body's finish.

Final Touches for a Good-as-New Ride

Follow these final tips for a new-car finish.

• Dry the car by hand with soft, clean microfibre towels. Air drying can cause streaks and spots

• Shine the tires with a tire shine product for a professional look

• On occasion, consider applying a car wax after you wash your car. This provides an extra layer of protection and new-car shine

Cleaning Tip: A leaf blower is an easy way to dry the car. A hand blower is a great way to dry hard-to-reach areas like door sills and gaskets.

When done properly, cleaning your car can give you a sense of satisfaction and keep your vehicle looking as good as new. Regular cleaning helps protect your vehicle from the elements and keeps the interior looking and smelling fresh. Browse our versatile selection of products and keep your car in tip-top shape.

While you're sprucing up your car, explore our car accessories and keep your ride road-ready and geared up.​