Take Care Car
Do you want to replace your car later or sooner?
To take care car the right way is not part of the traditional car ownership experience. After all, how many of us are really taught the proper way to take care of our cars.
You aren't going to find much help in the owners manual, and most people you know aren't taking care of their cars the way they should...just look at the cars of your friends and family for overwhelming evidence of peoples laziness and ignorance.
240K Miles and Amazing as Ever!
What if I told you your car could still look brand new after 200K miles...
would you believe me?
It is really true you know. Of course it's mot going to happen without some effort on your part.
The good news is that it doesn't require nearly as much work and effort as most people think.
Follow along as I lay out what is required and the products that are going to help you maintain your car in new-like condition as long as you want.
Take Care Car:
Professional Interior Tips
Darren's Note: The above 2 pictures are from my detail van after 20 years of service and 245K miles. This is what consistent and regular detailing to take care of car can do! And this required no special equipment or special techniques. The key here is consistency! The basic products and tools on this page, combined with your diligence is all that is required.
Taking car of your cars interior is way easier than you think!
- Vacuum at least once a month
- Wipe down interior with micro fiber cloth dampened with your choice in a all-purpose of car upholstery cleaner
- Spot clean interior upholstery as needed
- Apply a interior dressing to appropriate materials as needed
If you just followed these basic requirements and did so consistently, your car can remain in like-new condition year after year if you are just do what your car requires at a minimum.
Car Interior Cleaning:
Car interior cleaning is really pretty simple. You don't need any special equipment, you don't need to rent a carpet extractor.
Here are the steps that will keep your life simple and regardless of how dirty or clean your car starts, I promise you will produce results you didn't think was possible:
- Pre-vacuum all areas to remove as must dry dirt/debris as possible. (if your car upholstery/floor mats are excessively dirty; I recommend you brush areas vigorously as much as possible while vacuuming to remove as much dry dirt as possible before you use any of the liquid car upholstery cleaners below.
- Spray upholstery cleaner (one of the selections below) on area to be cleaned. (don't go crazy here and over-saturate area. A few sprays per section to begin. It is far better to do lighter, repeat applications rather than thinking you are going to get everything in one, heavy application of cleaner.
- Scrub area vigorously with chosen scrub brush.
- Mop up dirt with micro-fiber cloth.
- Repeat until you are satisfied.
- Step back and enjoy at your results.
- These steps are exactly the steps you take to clean anything in your car. Cloth, velour, rubber floor mats, leather seating, etc. (even hard plastic areas should be scrubbed to loosen any dried debris/dirt from crevices, seams, textures before you use upholstery shampoo)
Car Upholstery Cleaners:
(RTU: ready to use)
Griot's Garage 10956 Interior Cleaner 22oz
- Top rated car upholstery cleaner
- Will produce professional results
- Ready-to-use (RTU) formulation
- Can be used on all materials in your cars interior including car leather
- Floor mats, cloth seating, leather seating, headliners, carpeting, velour, vinyl, rubber
Darren's Tips: Some people like an ultra-simple solution when it comes to detailing the inside of their cars. This ready to use car upholstery cleaner is just that. No blending, no separate spray bottle or sprayer to source.
Completely self-contained and ready to use.
Car Upholstery Cleaner:
Concentrate
Life is messy! There is no shortage of messes to clean up, and your car is no exception.
You will find that you can go through a lot of upholstery shampoo like the one's above which is why I am a big fan of all-purpose cleaners. A much more economical way to go about the endless duties of cleaning your car.
From exterior cleaning duties to the interior, this concentrate is a great product to be economical and remain very effective.
Chemical Guys CLD_101 All Clean+ Citrus-Based All Purpose Super Cleaner (1 Gal)
- Custom dilute to fit your exact cleaning needs
- Use on any material that is water safe
- Upholstery cleaning, car leather cleaning, engine cleaning, etc., etc.
Car Upholstery Scrub Brush
Rubbermaid Professional Plus Scrub Brush, Scrubbing Brush (FGG23712)
- Perfect sized scrub brush for virtually any material, anywhere in your car.
- Stiff enough to be effective, soft enough to be safe.
Darren's Tip: If you are a beginner you will likely think this scrub brush would be too stiff and therefor unsafe to use on many of the materials of your car. Trust me when I say that it is perfectly safe (the exact brush I use when detailing professionally) for any material within your car; including your car leather. To take care of car you will need some kind of scrub brush and this one is perfectly suited. And remember; you always remain in control. If you are timid using it on some of the material in your car, simply back off on the pressure and go lightly until you build up experience and confidence.
Detail Brush
Chemical Guys ACC_S90 The Goat Boar's Hair Detail Brush
- Use this detail brush to dust vents and console controls.
- Use to dust any intricate parts/areas within your cars interior.
Darren's Tip: This detail brush is ideally suited to dust all the intricate parts within your cars interior. The shampoo and scrub brush above will handle all the heavy lifting of shampooing your cars interior; this brush will handle all the finer details within your car.
Micro Fiber Cleaning Cloths
Kirkland Signature Ultra High Pile Premium Microfiber Towels, 36 Count (Pack of 1), Yellow - 713160
- The actual micro fiber cloths I use for 80% of all my detailing tasks
- Micro fiber cloths are the winning balance of features over any other type of cloth: the softest, most absorbent, and lint free
- Interior and exterior use
Darren's Tips: When it comes to micro fibers you can spend lots of money for premium grade that is needed for paint work. But when it comes to the grungy work of car interior cleaning you really don't have to over-think these cloths. You just want something that is going to work and not break the bank. These are just that. Simple, cheap, and effective.
Detail Vacuum Cleaner
- This vacuum is the perfect size to take care of car and vacuuming
- The majority of car owners don't vacuum their cars for the simple reason of not having a vacuum that is suited for vacuuming their car
- That household vacuum cleaner is simply going to continue to discourage you from doing what needs doing
- The exact vacuum I use professionally
Darren's Tip: I am amazed at how many people still try and use the household vacuum to vacuum their cars. It's no wonder people's cars never get vacuumed as these household vacuum cleaners are so ill-equipped to work on your car.
People also think you need some massive wet and dry shop vac to use on their cars. But this vacuum I am recommending is the winning balance between size and power.
I have use the Ridgid vacuum for over 10 years and I keep coming back to them. This is their latest version of what I consider the winning balance in size, power, and versatility.
Take Car Car:
Professional Exterior Tips
With today's offerings of products, washing and waxing your car is easier than ever. Simply follow these basic take car of car steps initially, than as ongoing maintenance long-term:
- Wash car at least once a month
- Use a clay bar to decontaminate car paint initially, and once a year
- Apply car wax after you clay your car initially, then wax car every 4-6 months as ongoing maintenance
Car Wash Kit
Chemical Guys HOL121 Best Car Wash Bucket Kit (11 Items)
- The ideal kit for washing your car.
- Has virtually everything needed for a quality car wash.
- Even includes drying cloths (you gotta quit using your household bath towels)
Darren's Tips: I love bundles. It is more economical to buy what you need in these convenient bundles of car care products. Not only do these kits provide the necessary products and tools to take care of car, but is more convenient and cost effective.
Car Wax: paste wax
- Top rated car wax.
- One of my personal favorites.
- As easy as easy gets when it comes to a quality carnauba paste wax.
- Use every 4-6 months as your base coat of wax.
Darren's Tips: This wax is super easy to use. Easy on and easy off. Won't stain black trim either. Adds depth, gloss, and a healthy layer of protection.If you are committed to using a paste wax only to wax your car, then this is the wax for you.
Car Wax: spray wax
- My "go-to" wax for the past 15+ years
- I use this every month on my own cars as it is so easy to use
- Non-staining (won't stain black trim and I can literally wax every material on the exterior of my car while I am waxing the car paint: black trim, rubber gaskets around door handles, window frames, etc.)
- Can be used in direct sunlight, on hot paint
- Won't stain any of the matte finish accessories on some of the newer cars
Darren's Tips: he topic of car waxes is a very hyped up topic with endless opinions as to what is the best car wax. From a spray wax to paste waxes, the debate never ends.
From car paint sealants to carnauba waxes the debate never ends. people will debate this til the world ends. And since nobody can ever seem to truly verify with any consistent and standardized test of how long any sealant or car wax will last, I don't over-think it.
Because this car wax is so versatile and easy to use, and because I simply love the look of a freshly waxed car, I default to this spray wax and do so consistently to not only protect the paint, but the endless other materials on my car.
- The paint
- Carbon fiber accessories
- Sun roof gasket
- Door handle gasket
- Clear paint protection film on front end and on rocker panels
- Door jambs
- Interior vinyl components: door panels, dash board, etc.
- Car leather (yes, you can literally use this wax on any of your modern day car leather)
Premium Micro Fiber
- Premium micro fiber ideally suited for any paint work.
- Perfect for removing waxes.
- Perfect for spray waxing or waterless washing.
Darren's Tips: When it comes to paint work, this is the time it is OK to spend some money on micro fiber cloths. These are top rated micro fiber cloths that are ideally suited for nay waxing, spray waxes, or waterless wash products.
Take Care Car Summary
I hope you have a new opinion of what it means to take car of car and the benefits of performing these basic requirements. You really will be amazed at how amazing your car can look from day to day, month to month, year to year by following these tips on a regular basis.
Time slips away very quickly and most people do not have the money to replace their car as frequently as they would like. But your car can remain looking brand new for such a very long time if you are simply willing to apply some concentrated effort on a regular basis.
Happy detailing!
Sincerely,
Darren Priest
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