Cleaning your car from top to bottom is an important step of automotive maintenance, especially when it comes to your auto glass. A dirty windshield can seriously hinder your visibility of the road and increase glare during night time. It also only attracts more dirt and grime. Clean car maintenance, inside and out, also keeps your resale value high. Today, we’re going to give you some of our best tips for cleaning your car, from top to bottom, and keeping it that way! Grab your cleaning kit or purchase one and get that vehicle sparkling!

Cleaning The Exterior of the Vehicle

A sparkly clean vehicle can brighten any day! Here are some tips to get the outside of your car sparkling. 

Items Needed:

3 buckets 

Water source

Exterior auto cleaner/soap

2 sponges

Microfiber cloth

Clay bar

Vehicle wax

1. First, get everything set up, including your three buckets. Fill one with clean water, and the other two with your soap and water. Set one bucket with soapy water aside for tires. Use the other bucket with soapy water for your vehicle’s exterior surfaces.
2. Clean the grossest parts of your car first! This is usually the tires. Use your special tire cleaning bucket and get in there with a small sponge. Rinse with water after so you don’t splash any cleaning solution or grime back onto your car when you drive it next.
3. Clean those headlights. Use a sponge and your bucket of soapy water set aside for the car. Wipe them down with a moist cloth when you’re done.
4. Rinse off the body of your vehicle with clean water to get any loose dirt and mud off. Then, use your sponge and soapy water and scrub the vehicle clean. Rinse with water and dry with a microfiber cloth.
5. Rub your hand over the exterior of the car to ensure you’ve gotten all of the debris. If there are still some lingering spots, wipe with a clay bar until the clay moves around freely. Rinse, clean the spot with soapy water, and rinse again. Dry the vehicle again with a microfiber cloth.
6. Apply wax per manufacturer’s instructions. Wax not only adds a great shine to your vehicle, but it also protects against debris and grime. This makes cleaning easier next time.

Cleaning the Interior of the Vehicle

The inside of your vehicle can get grimy FAST, especially if you have small children. From spoiled milk spills to fast food trash, it’s good to make sure you clean the interior regularly.

Items Needed:

A vacuum cleaner with an extension hose and an upholstery tool

Dish soap

Microfiber cloths

Leather conditioner

Rubbing alcohol

Air freshener (optional)

1. Vacuum the vehicle’s interior, including carpets and any cloth upholstery. Using the upholstery tool will help to loosen more dirt. Use a cloth with soap and water to clean up any stains. Dab dry when finished.
2. Clean your leather and vinyl. You can use a drop of dish soap, water and a cloth to do this. Never use a product containing bleach on the interior of your car. Apply leather conditioner to keep the leather from drying out.
3. Dampen a toothbrush with soapy water to clean cup holders, vents, and other small crevices. Use rubbing alcohol on a cloth to disinfect and clean the other surfaces.
4. Use alcohol on a cloth to clean any touchscreens. Do NOT use ammonia-based glass cleaner on your touch screens as they may damage them.
5. Spray or hang your favorite air freshener and enjoy your clean interior!

Cleaning Outside Windows

Your outside windows are your biggest defense against the outside elements. Keeping these windows clean is important so you can see the road crystal clear at all times. It also helps reduce glare at night time.

Items Needed:

2 microfiber cloths

Glass cleaner

Clay bar

Car wax

1. Start by cleaning the outside of the windows in small portions using your microfiber cloth and favorite glass cleaner. Doing it in small portions ensures the glass cleaner does not evaporate as quickly as it would if you tried to do the entire surface at once. Rub the cloth and glass cleaner in a circular motion. Make sure to clean all parts of the windshield, including the windshield wipers and edges of the windshield.
2. Spray warm water on the windshield. Take a piece of clay bar and start rubbing the windshield surface with it. Don’t worry, you won’t damage your glass! The clay bar helps pick up dirt and debris left over. Scrub with the clay bar until the clay moves around freely.
3. Clean your windshield once more in small portions with a microfiber cloth and glass cleaner to get rid of all the grime.
4. Time to wax your windshield! Waxing your windshield helps water roll off of it and makes it more resistant to debris and bug grime. Apply, in a circular motion, a light layer of wax all over the window. Wait 10 minutes. Test the glass by rubbing the surface of your windshield with your finger. If the surface below is clear, you are ready to wipe it all down with your microfiber cloth.

Cleaning Inside Windows

The inside of your windows can also get very dirty, especially if you smoke in your car or have children who like to touch the windows. Keeping the inside clean is also integral to your safety.

Items Needed:

2 microfiber cloths

Glass cleaner

Rubbing alcohol 

1. Take your microfiber cloth and wipe down the insides of the windows until they are dry.
2. Put some rubbing alcohol on your microfiber cloth and scrub your windows clean. Make sure to wipe off any droplets from your dashboard so they don’t cause discoloration.
3. Similar to how we cleaned the outside of our windows, use a microfiber cloth and glass cleaner for the last step. Clean in small sections to ensure no glass cleaner evaporates before you can get to that spot.
4. Enjoy your sparkly, clean windows!

Clean Car Maintenance Tips

1. Keep a “clean car” kit in your trunk or back seat. Stock it with 2 microfiber cloths, glass cleaner, and portable surface wipes.
2. Create a designated trash can for your vehicle. You can purchase an embroidery hoop and sew fabric and a loop onto it to make a bag that loops around your emergency brake or anywhere else you choose to hang it. Empty it each time you get gas.
3. Keep a microfiber cloth in the glove compartment for a quick wipe down when things get a bit dusty.
4. Clean up spills when they happen. 

Well, there you have it. We love a good clean car, especially clean auto glass. Remember, if your glass is scratched or damaged, let us know so we can help you out!