We spend a lot of time in our cars. In fact, the average person’s daily commute is between 60–90 minutes round-trip. With this reality in mind, it’s important to know how to keep your car clean and smelling fresh. Here are 6 tips for keeping your vehicle in tip-top shape.
1. Establish a Wash Routine
First, start by establishing a routine for cleaning the exterior of your car. Dirt and grime can have a negative impact on your vehicle’s paint, so it’s important to wash your car at least once every two weeks.
Additionally, salt and bug splats require immediate care as salt can cause negative chemical reactions, and bugs release toxins and acid that can eat away at your car’s exterior. Luckily, your friends at Caliber Car Wash will be there to provide a solution based on your budget and car wash needs.
2. Stock Cleaning Products
Accidental spills happen to every driver, and you may need more than a napkin to clean up some messes! We recommend keeping a pack of multi-purpose wet wipes to clean on the go, and make sure your wipes are safe for leather and other delicate materials that may be in the interior of your car.
If you want full peace of mind that you’re using the right cleaning products, you can come to Caliber for an express car wash and then use our quality multi-purpose and window cleaner at our self-serve detailing station.
3. Replace Air Filter
Your car’s air vents are filtered to ensure cleaner air by preventing debris, dust, sand, and insects from entering. Just like for the AC vents in your house, replacing these filters is important but easy to overlook.
One way to remember to replace your filter is to get it checked every time you get an oil change—most mechanics will check and change a filter for free if you have a replacement on hand.
If you want to replace your filter yourself, there’s good news! Many air filters have easy access behind or underneath the glove compartment, and you can buy a new filter yourself for as little as $15.
Your particular vehicle and how often you travel are some factors that will play into the frequency of your air filters needing to be replaced. Although your air filter doesn’t make your car look dirty from the outside, keeping it clean is crucial for the long-term health of your car.
4. Use A Mini Trash Can
If you live life on the go in your car, you may find yourself scratching your head, wondering, “How did my car get this dirty? How do I keep my car’s interior clean?”
From old receipts to gas station napkins, trash can fill up in our vehicles within the blink of an eye if we aren’t careful! Keeping a mini trash can within arm’s reach can prevent clutter and keep unwanted trash out of sight. Instead of hauling loose papers and straw wrappers from your car on the daily, now you just have to empty your bin when it’s full.
5. Air Fresheners
Air fresheners are essential to keeping your car smelling fresh. Odor can consume the breathable space in your vehicle very quickly, and air fresheners help keep that in check. Caliber offers free air fresheners with every express wash if you’re in search of a consistent supply!
6. Seat Covers & Kick Mats
If you are a parent or pet owner, messes are bound to happen. Waterproof seat covers are a great solution that keeps your car’s interior clean, dry, and free of stains. They also help protect expensive materials such as leather from getting scratched, stained, or damaged by the sun during the summer months.
Kick mats are effective at keeping the floor of your car clean, as they ensure that unwanted debris and dirt aren’t tracked inside your car. Kick mats can be easily vacuumed at Caliber, and many are machine-washable. And if your carpet floor mats are also dirty, don’t forget to try Caliber’s complimentary carpet mat cleaner!
Have ideas for keeping your car #CaliberClean that we didn’t mention? Let us know on our social media so we can share your tips!
FAQs
What are tips for how to keep my car clean?
Keeping a clean car is a surprising challenge for most drivers, but it doesn’t have to be. Each of the recommendations outlined in this blog focus on small steps that can be taken for a big impact over time. Focus on manageable tasks like always carrying clutter out of your car and inside when you get home for the day, and spot-cleaning hard to reach areas like cupholders and floorboards as soon as they get dirty.
How can I keep a white car clean?
Unfortunately, white cars do showcase mud and bugs more prominently than other car colors. The best solution for keeping the exterior of a white car clean is to not go more than two weeks at a time without a car wash. Caliber Car Wash makes this easy with our Limitless Membership—all you have to do is show up and enjoy your top-tier express car wash!
How can I keep a black car clean?
Similar to white cars, black cars also showcase dirt very easily, from pollen to dust. Our recommendation for keeping your black car clean is the same as for white cars—wash frequently!
How can I keep my car clean in the winter?
If you live in an area where snow and ice is common in the winter, mud and salt can quickly wear on your car throughout the course of the season. We recommend keeping cleaning wipes on hand for the interior of your car, and heading to your local car wash any time you notice salt or mud buildup.