Keeping your car clean is one of the best ways to protect its value in the long run. In this post by Lopshire Motorsports in Ottumwa, we’ll go over a few tips to help you keep your car clean for longer. 

How to Wash Your Car

When people think about keeping their car clean, the first thing that comes to mind is washing it regularly. A simple solution to this is taking your vehicle to a car wash, where you go into a tunnel equipped with detergent, high-powered water jets, friction wash equipment, and drying systems to clean your car efficiently. Most car washes also provide you with an area where you can finish detailing and cleaning the inside of your vehicle.

Washing your car is only one of the ways to keep up with its maintenance; another way is getting a synthetic oil change in Ottumwa. Get more information directly from the pros at Lopshire Motorsports by calling (641) 680-7181 or visiting their online store today!

If you’re looking to wash your car at home, you’ll need a few things before getting started like:

• One bucket with soapy water and one to rinse your sponge.
• A car microfiber mitt or car wash sponge.
• Car shampoo or detergent, avoid using household or laundry detergent as it can hurt your car’s wax and paint.
• Tire cleaner
• A scrubbing brush for your tires.
• A pair of dry microfiber cloths.

Once you have your equipment ready, start lathering detergent from the top of your vehicle. Be thorough when applying detergent, and don’t forget to reach the undercarriage as it usually holds a lot of dirt. Rinse off your car and dry it with a microfiber cloth. Finally, spray the other one of your microfiber cloths with tire cleaner to make them shine.

Cleaning Inside Your Car

Vacuuming your car is a great way to keep it clean and mess-free on the inside, and it can even improve your driving experience. To vacuum your vehicle, start by clearing out bigger trash and taking out the floor mats. Start from your car’s floor carpets first, then make way to the seats. Afterward, wash and dry the floor mats and vacuum the dashboard with your vacuum soft brush attachment. If you don’t have a soft brush attachment, you can also go over it with a microfiber cloth and an interior detailer cleaner. Go over the trunk with your vacuum, and make sure you dispose of any trash that might have ended up in there. Pro tip: Once you’re done with the bigger areas, don’t forget to clean other crevices like cupholders that can hold dust and sometimes mysterious stains.

A synthetic oil change in Ottumwa can also help you maintain your car. Let the oil experts at Lopshire Motorsports guide you on the best products for your engine, like AMSOIL’s Signature Series 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil. Call today at  (641) 680-7181 or visit their online store 24/7 for more products.

Clean Up Messes Quickly

Another tip to keep your car cleaner for longer is to clean up messes as they happen. As mentioned above, we spend so much time in our cars that messes are bound to happen. Also, messes can be harder to clean in the long run, and some of them even can be a pain to clean once they’ve dried out and made a home in between your car’s upholstery. One of the most common messes in cars is when someone spills a beverage. The best way to clean it is to use a clean cloth to absorb as much of the beverage as possible, then mix a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with a tablespoon of vinegar in half a water cup and another clean cloth, blot the stain as best as you can. Then wipe off the solution with clean water and let it dry completely.

Car Organizers and Backseat Covers

Car organizers can be a great way to keep your car mess-free, and if you spend a lot of time driving around, it can make the experience better as a whole. Car organizers come in all shapes and sizes, from the simpler ones like visor organizers to ones like trunk organizers that fit bigger items like sports equipment. Other types of car organizers you might find useful are car trash cans that can help you keep litter out of the way; there are also some waterproof ones. And backseat organizers are great for those who have small children to help them keep their things organized. Finally, a great way to keep your car clean if you have pets is to use a backseat cover. These come in many different styles, from partial to waterproof, to ones with door protection. The type of backseat cover will significantly vary depending on your pet’s needs, but usually, waterproof ones are best for muddy paws and accidents.

Help your car run better with synthetic oil change in Ottumwa. Find out more from the friendly pros at Lopshire Motorsports by calling (641) 680-7181 or visiting their online store.