7 Tips to Help Keep Your Car Clean Longer

Having a car is a great investment. It gets you where you need to go and is a reflection of your personal style. However, it won't get you anywhere if it's not properly taken care of. Keeping your car clean, both inside and out, is very important to its longevity. Here are seven tips that will make sure your car stays clean longer.

1. Clean the Carpets

It is hard to avoid getting your carpets dirty. Even if you forbid everyone to eat in the car, shoes are full of dirt that collects on the carpet. You can get them cleaned at a local car wash, or use carpet shampoo and do it yourself. Vacuum regularly to pick up any loose dirt.

2. Wipe Surfaces Down

Your dashboard, steering wheel, and other hard surfaces pick up lots of germs and dirt from hands. Clean these surfaces to prevent the spread of bacteria and to keep the car clean and smelling fresh. To be chemical-free, use baby wipes rather than ones from an auto store.

3. Keep Your Seats in Good Condition

Lots of people sit in your car, and over time those seats get worn out. Proper cleaning will help them look new again. Leather seats need a special conditioner to make them shine, while cloth seats should be vacuumed and scrubbed.

4. Clean Air Vents

Dirt builds up over time. You don't want to turn on the air conditioner and have a blast of dirt hit your face. Vacuuming air vents consistently helps to prevent buildup and damage to your car and your health.

5. Maintenance Is Key

You have to keep your car running smoothly, so don't forget to check under the hood. Change your oil as needed, and make sure to top off wiper, brake, and other fluids. Even changing the wiper blades when they wear out prevents problems. Proper maintenance helps your car run for tens of thousands of miles.

6. Use an Air Freshener

Even after cleaning your car, sometimes a smell still lingers. Hang an air freshener on the rear-view mirror or clip it on the vent. It releases a pleasant scent for up to 30 days, so remember to change it monthly.

7. Keep a Trash Can in the Car

You bring all kinds of items into your car, from receipts to food. Once you realize you need to get rid of them, either you look around for a garbage can or stick trash in the back seat. You forget about it until you don't know what that smell is. A trash receptacle in the car is useful; it can be as simple as a plastic bag. These seven tips are just the beginning to keeping your car running well and looking good for a long time. Proper care and cleaning helps your car last for a long time. You do invest in maintenance, but keeping your car free from trash and dirt is also a great long-term strategy.   Photo by VintageBlue | Licensed under cc0 1.0