You probably spend a lot of time in your car each day. Because of this, you may find it difficult to keep it clean. Fortunately, there are some simple changes that you can make that will help you keep your car clean with little effort on your part. The following are steps you should take if you want to start being proactive about your car maintenance.
Keep a Small Trash Bag Nearby
You can easily accumulate a lot of trash when you are in your car. It’s not uncommon for everything from empty food wrappers to receipts to end up on the floor. This is why it’s a good idea to always have a small trash bag nearby. If you tend to drive alone, you can just keep it on your passenger’s seat so that you can easily access it when you have trash to throw away. Make sure you throw out the trash bag every week so that trash bags don’t start to accumulate. Getting rid of trash will help keep your car smelling fresh and looking nice.
Get Car Floor Mats
One of the dirtiest parts of your car may be the floor. It’s not uncommon for a lot of dirt to get inside of your car every time you get into it. In order for you to keep your car clean with little effort on your part, you should get car floor mats. This will allow you to keep all of that dirt and debris on them instead of on the floor of your car. Make sure you clean your floor mats from time to time though. Remove them and shake off any dirt or leaves on a weekly basis.
Invest in a Portable Vacuum
You will find it easier to keep your car clean if you have the right tools to do so. This is why you should invest in a portable vacuum. If you purchase one that can plug into your car’s auxiliary power outlet, you can easily vacuum up a mess whenever you need to. Having one of these in your home’s garage will make cleaning more accessible and convenient. You don’t have to drop a lot of money to purchase a portable vacuum. Find a basic model that fits your budget.
Purchase a Membership to a Car Wash
While you probably can wash your car yourself, you may not have a lot of time to really give it the good cleaning that it needs. If this is the case, you may want to consider purchasing a membership to a car wash. If you choose to use the automated option, you may be able to have your car cleaned in just a few minutes. An unlimited monthly membership can be a good option. It can allow you to even wash your car everyday if you’d like. Along with an exterior car wash, regularly taking your car to get detailed will help make cleaning maintenance much easier.
Touch Up the Paint
Keeping the exterior of your car clean is just as important as taking care of the inside. One way to keep your car exterior clean is by touching up the paint. Touch up any chips on your car’s paint. Over time, your car might start chipping. Touching it up will make it appear clean and will also make car washes more efficient. Dirt won’t get trapped in the chipped areas and your car will stay looking like new, even if it’s 20 years old.
Stock Up on Cleaning Supplies
Keep cleaning supplies in your car for emergencies. For example, keep a big stack of napkins in your car at all times. This will allow you to quickly clean up any spills. You might also want to keep hand sanitizer in your car to keep it sanitized. Use the hand sanitizer after going into a store and before you touch the steering wheel to keep germs at bay. Keep extra trash bags inside of your car for any emergencies too.
Take Care of Stains Immediately
The best way to prevent your car from getting too messy is by taking care of stains right away. If someone spills food or a drink in your car, make sure it is wiped up and cleaned with a stain remover. If stains go too long without being removed, it will be harder and maybe even impossible to get rid of.
Set Cleanliness Rules for Your Family
If you want your car to always feel fresh and clean, set some ground rules with your family, especially if you have young kids. You can make a rule that food and drinks aren’t allowed to be consumed in the car. This will prevent food stains. You can also make sure that kids clean the bottom of their shoes before getting into the car to prevent dirt or mud being brought in. Turning these rules into a habit will help with the upkeep of cleaning your car.
Your car is a big investment, and you need to do everything that you can in order to take care of it no matter how busy you are. Fortunately, there are plenty of simple changes that you can make that will allow you to keep your car clean without you having to take a lot of time out of your day. Start implementing the above tips, or make it a priority to take your car to a professional for regular cleaning.
