Keeping the exterior of your car, truck, SUV or van in good condition is important for a variety of reasons. A damaged or neglected vehicle is more difficult to resell, because dirt, road grime and salt can wear away the paint and make the car appear in worse shape than it really is. Also, repairing a body part is much more difficult than performing a mechanical repair and requires a certain amount of skill, patience, time and effort. To keep your vehicle looking its best and help it retain its resale value, consider the following tips:
• Once a year (or every 12,000 miles), have the underside of your vehicle steam cleaned to remove all dirt and oil residue. You can then inspect the area for damaged cables and brake lines, rust, frayed electrical wires and other problems.
• Steam clean and/or degrease your vehicle’s engine compartment once a year or every 12,000 miles.
• Pay close attention to your wheel wells. The undercoating can peel away or the tires can throw up stones and dirt, causing the paint to flake and chip and inviting rust. If you find any rust, sand the area down to bare metal and repaint with a rust-inhibiting paint.
• Wash the entire vehicle body once a week. Hose down the exterior with water to loosen any dirt, then use a high-quality car wash product and wash mitt to clean the surfaces, starting with the roof, hood and trunk areas and working your way down.
• Use a cloth soaked in kerosene to remove asphalt and tar build-up.
• Use chrome cleaner sparingly. In addition to removing dirt and grime, chrome cleaners also remove a little chrome each time you use them.
• Wax or polish the vehicle’s body once every six months. Use a paste wax for added protection of chromed parts.
• Use plain soap and water to clean exterior vinyl parts. Don’t use caustic soaps, petroleum-based products or detergents. For engrained dirt, use a soft brush, soap and water. After cleaning, apply a high-quality rubber/vinyl protectant to prevent cracks and oxidation. You can also apply this protectant to vacuum lines, weather stripping and rubber hoses on other parts of your vehicle to help protect against chemical degradation.
• Spray your wheel covers and rims with brake dust remover, and then wash them with soap and water.
• After washing your tires with soap and water, apply a high-quality rubber/vinyl protectant for additional protection.
