Car Tips and Tricks
Car cleaning: the first step in maintenance.
When we talk about maintenance, most drivers automatically think of the mechanical part of their car. But what if we told you that the first step to good maintenance starts with car cleaning?
Everything you need to know about car cleaning.
If you've opted for a car subscription, in addition to the extra dose of flexibility you've added to your life, you'll also be pleased to know that driving a rented car takes the hassle out of thoroughly cleaning the car. Why? We'll take care of it for you. Just imagine the comfort and convenience.
Still, you'll have to take care of the most superficial and practical things. Just make sure you keep your car free of dust and everyday rubbish. However, it's still important that you understand the true importance of car cleaning.
To begin with, sanitising the inside and outside of your car has more than just aesthetic benefits. Who likes driving a dirty car? The feeling of driving a clean car is extraordinary. As well as comfort, there's also the question of preservation and good looks. A car reflects who drives it.
Which brings us back to the question of our car subscription: do you know about the extra care that a private vehicle requires? Xtracars has a team to take care of that for you. Preventive car cleaning is important.
Benefits of car cleaning.
- Helps preserve materials and the useful life of the car interior.
- Guarantees air quality for the driver and passengers.
- Lower car depreciation.
- Better preservation of the paintwork.
- Greater safety by keeping windows, mirrors and lights clean.
- Prevents maintenance by making it easier to identify possible anomalies.
How to wash your car during your subscription.
You may never have realised it, but it's recommended that you wash your car once a week. Yes, you read that right. But how to wash the car?
To begin with, all you need is a bucket of water and a sponge. A thorough cleanliness isn't always necessary. Removing most of the dust from the outside and inside is sometimes enough.
Start with the bonnet, move on the car’s sides and rear, and don't forget the roof. Then spend a few minutes on the wheels and rims. When you want a more thorough cleaning, then choose a liquid car cleaner, dip the sponge in water and carefully, always in a circular motion with your hand, start cleaning the car from top to bottom. Use a microfiber cloth to dry it afterwards.
For the windows, you need to be extra careful, because we're also talking about your safety here. Get some vinegar and a clean cloth. Strange combination? Yes. But effective? Absolutely. It's an ideal solution for removing stubborn stains. After scrubbing gently, just wipe it off with a cloth.
For the rims, use products with bicarbonates. Leave on for a few minutes and then rinse off with clean water. If the rims are aluminium, it's best to choose your product.
As for the headlights, there's a trick that few people know, but which is infallible: toothpaste. Trust us, we know what we're talking about, and the results speak for themselves. All you must do is put a little white toothpaste on a dry cloth, rub it all over the headlight and then, with a wet cloth, scrub until you've removed all traces of paste. You can also use hydrogen peroxide.
Automatic car cleaning
The care you put into manual car cleaning may not be found in an automatic one. This is done by mechanisms that use strong detergents to remove all the dirt. They are then cleaned using high-pressure water jets. To dry the car, it passes through rollers that rotate at high speed.
The problem with jets is that they can damage the paintwork. The rollers, on the other hand, can scratch the car if they are not cleaned properly. Comparing an automatic wash to a manual one, automatic washes only fulfil the minimum cleaning requirements. Advantage: it often takes a quarter of the time of a manual wash.
How to keep the car clean for longer?
Now that you know some of the benefits of car cleaning, let's put them into practice, shall we? The tips are simple and easy to put into action.
Products that eliminate odours: a well-known and easy-to-use trick is to opt for cleaning products with a pleasant scent. There are many options on the market. To help spread the odour, spray the inside of the car and then switch on the air conditioning in recirculation mode for a few minutes.
Cleaning the windows inside and out: it's essential to make sure you clean the car windows and all their components properly. This allows you to always have maximum visibility (and safety), but it also helps ensure that the windows don't fog up so often.
Keep the interior free of rubbish: one of the first steps in keeping your car clean is to ensure that no rubbish accumulates inside. We know it's not always easy to ensure this because of the daily rush, but if you have a dedicated bag handy for rubbish collection, you'll find it's easier.
Shake out the carpets frequently: car carpets accumulate dirt very easily. At least once a week, before you put the car away for the weekend, remember to shake it out.
Use an air freshener in the car: there are lots of fragrances to choose from, so select your favourite one that doesn't bother you. There's nothing like getting into a car that smells good.
Xtracars: your flexibility is here.
Your car subscription gives you greater flexibility. And the detailed car cleaning that Xtracars carries out gives you an extra dose of peace of mind during your rental period.
With our long-term car hire solution, you know that your car will shine, inside and out. Discover all the benefits of choosing one of our vehicles, which go far beyond their cleanliness.
