Author: Fantic Carro
Source: articleage.com
It's a great feeling to buy a new car. Everything's gleaming new
and the smell of fresh leather lingers as you drive. You even
catch yourself constantly stealing glances at the reflection of
your shiny new car.
How about 12 months later? Does your car still look new or does
it look dull, tired and old? How can some people keep their cars
gleaming new while others look old 12 months out of the showroom?
The trick lies in how you care for your car. It is easy if you
know how.
1) Wash Your Car Every Week
Dust and dirt will accumulate on your car's paintwork. Nothing
much you can do to prevent it. The only answer is to wash it!
This is especially true if your car was exposed to rain. If you
leave it to dry under the sun, it will leave watermark stains on
your paintwork. These are very tough to remove later.
To wash your car, get a clean & soft terry cloth or use a cloth
diaper. You can easily pick it up at the baby's section in your
favorite departmental store. If you want something fancier, then
get Meguiar's Ultimate Wipe cloth
(http://www.fdcars.com/newsletter/n2-1.htm). Apart from cloth,
you'll need a quality car shampoo. I use Meguiar's NXT
Generation Car Wash (http://www.fdcars.com/newsletter/n2-2.htm).
It's cheap and will last you quite some time.
First, hose off any dirt, mud or grime from your car. Then mix 3
caps-full of shampoo with a small bucket (20 oz) of water. Use
your cloth to apply it to your car. It's best to use circular
motions. Wash off the shampoo with a clean cloth/cloth diaper
under running water. Once you've cleaned off all shampoo
residue, wipe dry your car with a new cloth/diaper, making sure
all panels are wiped completely dry.
Since brake dust accumulates on your rims, clean it with some
shampoo as well. Since you'd normally spend more time inside
your car than admiring the paintwork, it makes sense to vacuum
your car interior when you wash your car.
2) Wax Your Car Every Month
You can either send your car to an auto detailer for waxing or
take the DIY route. If you have an hour or two to spend, then
try waxing it yourself. It's really not that difficult.
Make sure you wash and dry your car before waxing. It's best for
you and your car if you park it somewhere shady while waxing it.
Use a quality carnauba wax like Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech
Wax (http://www.fdcars.com/newsletter/n2-3.htm). Apply the wax
in a circular motion onto your car with the included sponge.
Apply the wax on one section at a time, remembering the
sequence. Finish applying it on the entire car.
Then, use a dry soft terry cloth/cloth diaper to wipe off the
extra wax. Begin with the first panel you worked on and go on
from there. Make sure you shake off any excess wax that
accumulates on your cloth. It's easier to wipe off wax when your
cloth isn't itself caked with wax. Finish wiping the entire car.
Check for any remaining wax residue and clean it off.
Make sure to wash your cloth with liquid softener to prepare it
for your next use. This ensures there isn't any remaining dirt
that might scratch your car the next time you use the cloth to
wax it.
3) Apply Tyre Polish To Complete The Look
Spray your tyres with Meguiar's Hot Shine High Gloss Tyre Spray
(http://www.fdcars.com/newsletter/n2-4.htm) to complete that
shiny, wet look. It's easy to apply with the trigger spray and
you'll can do it in less than 5 minutes. Having shiny tyres
really makes your car look newer.
4) Apply Leather Conditioner To Protect It
If your car comes with leather seats, make sure you clean and
condition it at least every other month. Meguiar's Medallion
Premium Leather Care conditioner
(http://www.fdcars.com/newsletter/n2-5.htm) will do the job.
Wipe the cleaner/conditioner onto your leather seats with a
clean terry cloth/diaper. Leave for 15 minutes before wiping off
any extra residue. This helps to keep your leather supple and
smelling like new
For your vinyl surfaces (dashboard, door interiors, etc), do the
same thing but use Meguiar's Vinyl & Leather Cleaner/Conditioner
(http://www.fdcars.com/newsletter/n2-6.htm) instead. Your
interior will remain looking brand new.
5) Show Off Your Nice & Shiny Car
Your car will continue to look brand new if you follow this
routine. Your friends and family will admire your "new car" even
though it's 3 years old. The best thing? You'll fetch higher
prices when you sell your car next time. With it's gleaming
paintwork and spotless interior, you won't have any trouble
getting a buyer for your car.
P.S. The writer is not affiliated with Meguiar's. He is just a
satisfied customer.
