Tips for Washing, Waxing, and Detailing Your Car

Sep 23, 2015

A few decades ago, a vehicle with 100,000 miles was ready for the scrap yard and was well past its useful life. Today, the average life spans of cars are increasing, thanks to improvements in equipment and parts technologies. It is not uncommon, or unheard of, to get 200,000 or even 300,000 miles out of a vehicle before it is replaced. For those people who purchase cars form El Paso car lots, this means they are able to keep their cars even longer.

With the increase in vehicle life spans, it is essential to properly care for the vehicle by washing, waxing, and detailing it on a regular basis, to ensure that the car’s interior and exterior last just as long as the engine and transmission. Investing the time to protect your vehicle and maintain its appearance has its rewards later, with a higher trade-in value, when you are ready to trade in your car for a new vehicle at your Kia dealer or other dealership.

Perform all detailing work in the shade. Direct sunlight leaves soap and water streaks and spots on the car’s finish. Plus, the shade helps keep you cooler while vacuuming and cleaning the car’s interior.
Clean and vacuum the interior. Use a UV protectant to dust the dashboard, doors, and leather seats first, and then vacuum.
Use approved materials for washing, drying, and waxing the car. There are special soft towels that will not scratch the finish on the vehicle.
Only use products designed for your car. Never use dish soap, laundry detergent, or other common household cleaning products. The only exception is glass cleaner. From car wash soaps to leather protectants, there are numerous products designed for the harsh conditions vehicles are exposed to year round to help protect their exteriors and interiors.
Always wet the vehicle down before washing. Take the time to wet down the vehicle to loosen dust, bugs, and other debris before washing it.
Wash from the bottom of the vehicle upwards. Start with the tires and wheel wells, and wash these first. It is okay to wash one tire, and rinse it before moving on to the next. After you are done with the tires, wet down the car a second time if the water has evaporated.
Use a soft bristle toothbrush. This helps remove dirt, bugs, and debris from small cracks and crevices.
Dry the vehicle off before waxing. The car needs to be completely dry before applying most wax products.
Be careful to not wax plastic parts. Many exterior pieces may look like they are metal, like bumpers, and, unless the wax specifically says it is safe for plastic, you should avoid getting wax onto plastic parts.
Clean windows. Do this last.
Use a carpet shampooer. Use this to clean the carpeting and upholstery in the vehicle at least once a year.

By taking the time to wash, wax, and detail your car on a regular basis, you maintain its appearance, and you are able to get a better trade-in value, once you get ready for your next new car. Feel free to use Integrity Kia’s professional car detailing service if you find yourself too busy to do the work yourself. Stop by or phone 915-856-2982 today to learn more.