Winter is the seasonal period that vehicles sustain an increase in external and internal mechanical fatigue. Road grit, Salt and the repetitive cycle of freezing of a vehicle will produce visible signs of wear on the external perspective of any automobile. Cold temperatures and freezing winters is the most common season of the year people avoid valeting their vehicle correctly. Maintaining periodic cleaning regimes will enable you to avoid costly minor damage fixes that could have been avoided during the winter cold spells.
Here is a quick simple step by step procedure of how to clean the internal and external of any commercial vehicle during difficult periods of the year.
• Equipped with quality sponge and bucket, proceed to clean the vehicle removing visible signs of dirty build up.
• Preferably use a high quality car shampoo, or 2 in 1 car shampoo and wax.
• Avoid cleaning your car in direct sunlight, as this will produce a quick drying effect which will result in an uneven smeared finish.
• Rinse the car fully after cleaning, either by using a hose for convenience, or by rinsing with fresh clean cold water.
• Maintain a high level of concentration on alloys, and tyres, this will be where there is a high increase in dirt build up. If there are excessive amounts of brake dust that is difficult to remove, try investing in a quality alloy cleaner and tyre cleaning solution.
• Provide an even drying effect with the use of a Chamois or a quality fibred drying sponge/cloth.
• Investing in a quality window and mirror cleaner will save ample time and you will be rewarded with a near perfect, show room quality finish.
Performing an all-round check on your vehicle for any visible and obvious signs of damage would be recommended. Any damage that has not been resolved before any cold spell could result in extensive and expensive repair bills that could have easily been remedied prior.
Investing in a quality lubricant for use with key holes and door hinges can reap its benefits. Any creaking or squeaking noises, when any door on the vehicle opens or closes is an obvious sign that the associated door needs lubricant re applied. If in doubt regarding anything detailed about your vehicle, you always have the ability to reference from your owner’s manual.
Using a commercial car wash on a busy schedule can be convenient, but you will not receive the meticulous detailed clean as you would from an individual clean. Commercial car washes are a gamble due to the materials you pay for may not be the materials and quality you are expecting. Car washes do clean the undercarriage of the car, but if invested wisely, a simple under surface protection from a major garage/car mechanic before the cold seasonal period commences would protect you from all the elements, including rust.
Maintaining these few simple rules with a little bit of time and effort will save you expense, and potential repercussions in the future.
