These days, car detailing tips and tricks are a dime a dozen. You can find them online, at your local auto detailing shop, and even in your email inbox. With the sheer number of car care how-to’s you can get your hands on, the real question lies in finding out which ones you can truly bank on and use over and over. After all, you can’t easily replace your car every time you botch a do-it-yourself job on your vehicle, can you?

So here we’ve come up with ten of the most reliable and most effective car detailing tips and tricks you can do on a regular basis. Your vehicle needs tender loving care every once in a while. And if you’re like the majority of car care owners who are not too well off to have the cash to spare for regular professional detailing, you’re going to have to stand in for your detailer from time to time.

The Car Detailing Tips and Tricks

1.Don’t forget to dress the tires and wheels. If your car already has thousands of miles on it, chances are the tires and wheels are in need of replacement. But you can extend the lifetime of your four wheels by simply taking good care of them every time you go out for a spin. The tires definitely take the brunt of the job because it comes into direct contact with road dirt, snow, and other bad stuff when you drive.

2.Prep your car properly before putting it in storage. Whether you’re storing your vehicle because you’re going on vacation or you just don’t want to use it during the roughest winter months, you should make ample preparations to ensure that it will run smoothly when you eventually take it out of storage. Putting antifreeze and waxing your vehicle are just two of the most important steps you should not miss to keep your vehicle in good shape while in storage.

3.Wax your vehicle regularly. Well, this is pretty obvious isn’t it? If you wish to have a clean, shiny car, you have to apply wax and polish every few months. A good coat of wax keeps your paint glossy and rust-free, plus it also lends your vehicle an extra layer of protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays.

4.Clean the trimmings with specialized products. Too many car owners forget that a truly beautiful car is one that is clean down to the tiniest details. Don’t forget to use the right cleaning products on your car’s plastic and leather trimmings, both inside and out. If necessary, you can replace them altogether. A gouged and chipped trim will definitely ruin your car’s sleek looks.

5.Choose only environmentally-friendly car cleaning products. These products might cost you a little more than the regular car cleaning chemicals, but it’s important for you to do your share in protecting Mother Earth. By simply availing yourself of less harmful cleaning solutions, you can already decrease the amount of water pollution and wastage in your area.

6.Change the tint every now and then. Very few people realize that a dirty, streaky window tint can make or break a car’s appearance. When replacing your window film, it’s necessary for you to check relevant local and federal laws regarding the level of opacity that’s allowed for your vehicle. Remember to choose the right cleaning products for your window tint, so it does not peel off earlier than it should.

7.Keep the interior clean and clutter-free. Complement your car’s showroom-shiny exterior with a well-kept interior that’s free from dust, food bits, and odor. Keeping your car clean inside is easily accomplished if you develop the habit of not allowing trash to accumulate over long periods of time. Place a small trash bag in your glove compartment so that you can easily pick up and dispose of your litter once you get home.

8.Check your car’s underbody for repair and replacement on a regular basis. Your car’s chassis and engine block is in need of care just as much as the wheels. Regularly degreasing the metal components in the underbody and getting rid of rust and dirt can really make your car last for a long time.

9.Maintain a good supply of clean and semi-clean microfiber wash cloths for your vehicle. Never clean your car with a dirty rag, or any fabric other than chamois or microfiber. Doing so will certainly leave behind ugly streak marks that will attract dust and dirt very quickly, making your cleaning efforts worthless. You can recycle used microfiber towels for the first round of your next car wash schedule, but make sure that they are cleaned out first.

Conclusion

Have your car evaluated by the professionals on a regular basis. Even the most hardcore car care enthusiasts can only do so much with car detailing tips and tricks. At the end of the day, your professional detailer is still the best person to do the job for you. He has the skills, the tools, and the experience to make your car look better than ever, inside and out.