Car Cleaning Tips For Fall

From colorful scenery to chai lattes, there are hay loads of things to love about fall. And since we’re between the heat of the summer and the frigid winter weather, it’s a great time to deep clean your vehicle. Here are a few car cleaning routine tips for getting your car spick and span.

Make your interior shine

When it comes to tips for cleaning your car’s interior, start at the top and work your way down. That means cleaning your interior glass, doors, dash and vents first, then finishing with the floor. This is so you can clean up any muck that falls to the ground in one fell swoop.

For interior glass, start by wiping the entire surface down with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Degrease the glass with either a moistened Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or rubbing alcohol. Finish by wiping down the glass in a circular motion with your favorite Safelite Glass Cleaner and another microfiber towel.

A cheap artist’s paintbrush is a creative way to get into hard-to-reach areas, like vents and other nooks and crannies. A can of compressed air will also do the trick.

Outdoor debris is prevalent this time of year, and easy to track onto your vehicle’s upholstery and floor. you may be wondering how to clean cloth car seats. For cloth, stick to a professional grade cleaner and use a soft, yet sturdy, brush. To clean leather, you can create a DIY cleaning solution by mixing 1/2 cup olive oil with 1/4 cup of vinegar to wipe seats clean.

Scrub carpets with a stiff brush to loosen any grime and then vacuum. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can also bust out the car carpet cleaning solution. Switching out your car mats is another easy and affordable way to make your interior look like new. You may also want to consider installing easy-to-clean vinyl mats to prepare for messy autumn and winter weather.

Score a superior exterior

First, beyond achieving that new car shine, a good exterior wash also removes ragweed pollen, a major allergen during the fall. If you opt to clean your vehicle on your own rather than at a car wash, there are a few things to consider.

Like the interior, there is an order to things here as well. It’s best to start by tidying up your wheels and tires. We recommend a water-based tire cleaner, which is less corrosive than the chemical-packed options. Scrub the rubber with a tire brush until it’s clean as a whistle, then use a microfiber towel to wipe your wheels to a shine.

When washing the body of your vehicle, start at the top and work your way down. Be sure to use a specialized car soap rather than dish detergent, which can be tough on your paint and strip away the wax. Start by thoroughly rinsing debris away with water. For tough-to-remove tree sap stains, start by using soap and water. If they still won’t budge, try treating them with mineral spirits, WD-40 or hand sanitizer. 

Once all the spots are removed, give your entire ride a soapy rub-down. A natural sea sponge or specialized washing mitt are two effective tools for gentle cleaning. Rinse your sponge regularly throughout the process with clean water. It helps to keep one bucket with clean water for rinsing, and another with your soapy water. After soaping, give your vehicle a meticulous rinse from the top down.

To avoid water spots, dry your vehicle ASAP with a specialized squeegee or microfiber towel (or a combo of both, starting with the squeegee). Start with drying the windows, since they’re most prone to water splotches.

After your wash, consider waxing your car to give it a gorgeous shine and protect it from the seasonal elements. Make sure your car is completely dry, then apply the wax in a circular motion all over (using light pressure). Remove excess wax with one side of a clean microfiber cloth, then use the other side to buff the surface to an immaculate shine.

A final note on your windshield and wipers

Since you can’t keep your windshield crystal clear without quality and clean windshield wipers, now is a great time to make sure your wipers are in tiptop shape. If your blades show signs of wear, aren’t functioning correctly or haven’t been replaced in at least six months, swap them out for a shiny new all-season set.

True to its name, fall also means lots of falling debris, so you may want to keep a can of glass cleaner and a lint-free cloth in your car for easy windshield cleanup.

Now you’ve got the skinny on getting your car spiffy for fall! Keep it clean, stay safe and enjoy the season.