If you truly want to care for something and make it last, you keep it clean. Dirt and grime can eat away at the thing you prize over time if left unchecked and it’s easily prevented. There are some out there that spend hours upon hours deep cleaning their vehicle to get the perfect shine inside and out.
While we at Toyota of Clermont think this sounds like a recipe for a good time, we understand that not everyone has all the time and money in the world to invest in cleaning their car. There are easy ways to keep your car from becoming your closet/trash can and affordable things you can do to clean it up today.
If you’re ready for some serious car detailing, and serious money saving, check this out!
Start with the Interior
The best place to start your car detailing journey is the interior. Here are a few affordable car detailing pro tips we at Toyota of Clermont swear by:
To get stains out of fabric car seats, dish soap and water almost always does the trick! Mix both ingredients and apply the solution to the spot with a sponge and scrub. If the stain is proving to be a stubborn bas!@rd, try using baking soda with water (recipe is 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of warm water). Mixing these will make a paste that you can then apply to the stain. If anything, club is also a great one ingredient solution you can try.
While we recommend using material specific cleaning/conditioning liquid for the surfaces in your car, they can get pretty expensive. A great car detailing trick is to apply a bit of olive oil to a cloth and apply to the surfaces that need a little shine. This includes the dash, steering wheel, and other high touch points. Leather seats can also apply here! But, make sure to let the oil dry on your surfaces before driving (otherwise you’ll likely have a Looney Tunes-esque scenario playing out).
Interior odors are pesky and the best way to ruin a first date. Luckily, there’s a budget friendly Clermont car detailing trick you can use. Charcoal is a natural deodorizer and putting a small bag of it under your seats can work wonders. You can also put drying sheets under your seats and swap them out when they wear out to keep the freshness alive. For a more extreme measure, sprinkle a scented baking soda solution on your surfaces and vacuum it up after a few hours.
Move on to the Exterior
Now that you’ve taken care of the interior it’s time to turn your attention to the exterior. Having to only clean one large surface may seem easy, but it can get quite difficult getting into every nook and cranny. To make the process more cost effective, here are our sworn-by car detailing tips:
Don’t use regular dish soap to wash your car! While it might seem like a cost effective life-hack, it’ll wind up costing you more in the long run. Dish soap is harsh on your car’s paint and can wind up stripping it over time, making it prone to sun and other elemental damage. If you don’t want to pony up for car soap, mix hair conditioner with warm water. This will help preserve your paint, add a bit of hydrophobia in the mix, and get you on your way.
If you need to clean your windows, avoid ammonia based cleaners you’d typically use to clean mirrors (actually, there’s a better way to clean mirrors but that’s a discussion for another time) and windows in your home. Instead, use a mixture of vinegar and warm water to wipe away dirt and dust from your windows. Not only is this more cost-effective, but it’s far less harsh on your window tint.
Still have some questions about car detailing and how you can save money doing it? Toyota of Clermont is here to help! Give us a call at (352) 404 7000.
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