Tips to keep your car clean
Along with buying a new home, a new car purchase is one of the biggest decisions consumers will make in their lifetime. And, similar to the maintenance of a home, car maintenance is a crucial part of automotive ownership. Thus, with April being National Car Care Month, Boston.com contributor Peter DeMarco is renewing his determination to do what some people neglect to do soon after buying a new car: keeping it clean. He offers four words that should help other new-car owners do the same: sponges, wax, rubberize and bag.
Sponges save a car's interior from spills
Every motorist enjoys a tasty beverage, but as DeMarco notes, the chances of that beverage spilling or leaking are next to certain. To prevent spillage from staining a car's upholstery—particularly the cup holder—he says the problem's often solved with something as simple as a sponge. Though special sponges can be purchased online, DeMarco says fastidious car owners are just as pleased with 50-cent kitchen sponges cut in the shape of a coaster.
Don't underestimate the value of wax
It's no secret that wax gives a car's exterior added luster, but Lauren Fix, Time Warner's national automotive correspondent, told DeMarco that wax isn't something that should be applied every once in a while.
"Waxing protects against sun and rain damage, maintains the shine of the car and will protect the original color," Fix told DeMarco. She went on to say that people should wax every month, especially if people opt for using spray wax over paste, the kind Fix prefers.
Though a sunny day may seem like the perfect time to apply wax, Fix told DeMarco that the sun and wax don't mix. "You want the paint to be cool," Fix said. "If it's hot, it makes the wax extremely hard to get off."
'Rubberizing' a car's interior
Even the most fastidious car owner will eventually see his or her floor become increasingly soiled with dirt, sand and foot prints. But DeMarco says this can be avoided by investing in rubberized floor liners. For less than $200, DeMarco says people can prevent the interior of their car from becoming overwrought with sludge, grease and grime.
Bring the bag to the car
Finally, when it comes to cleaning the wrappers and papers that tend to pile up, DeMarco says people should bring trash bags to the rubbish instead of the other way around. While any trash bag will work, DeMarco said online retailers sell trash bags made just for cars.
"A lot of people just don't want a boring bag," one such retailer told DeMarco.
By DeMarco's own admission, he hasn't been the best with car maintenance, but according to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, Americans spend a lot on a car's upkeep. Last year alone, AAIA reports consumers spent an average of $897 per light vehicle on repairs and maintenance.
