It is common knowledge that basic washing and waxing of your car helps in maintaining the luster of its paint. Also, simple vacuuming keeps interiors attractive and fresh. However, there is still more you can do to ensure the car stays in top condition. This will guarantee a higher resale value for the car when it is time to sell.
The following are ways to keep your car well-maintained:
- Exterior Paint Care and Polish
Over time, grease, dirt, and dust collect on the car’s paint surface, which eventually eats into the finish leading to chipping, paint fade, and corrosion. Your car could also have paint overspray, probably from specs of paint. Paint overspray occurs when your car is located near a car that was being spray painted. Mist from the wet paint floats through the air, settles onto your car, and dry’s on it.
The tiny paint particles are blown by wind current and land on any surface they find, including the car paint, tires, wheels, plastic trims, rubber moldings, and glass. If you notice particles on the surface of your car paint, take it for paint overspray removal by a professional, who will do the job without damaging the car’s exterior.
A full car detail gives close attention to your vehicle. Initially, pressure washing is applied to the exterior to remove dirt, followed by hand drying. Tough to remove dirt particles such as paint overspray is removed using a clay bar, and then the car is hand or machine polished to remove fine scratches and give it an even shine.
- Have Regular Vehicle Maintenance
Keep track of your vehicle’s maintenance to avoid having mechanical issues that can cause unpleasant odors or dust build-up inside the car. Make sure you regularly replace the car’s air filter.
Another aspect of vehicle maintenance is changing your oil filter and oil on schedule. The oil keeps vital engine parts from mincing on each other, destroying the machine. Unchanged motor oil damages the car’s engine as accumulated contaminants cause friction upon rubbing on engine parts. Ensure that the oil you use on your engine meets viscosity and service requirements as per the owner’s manual.
Before buying a car, research its regular maintenance requirements and repair costs for regularly occurring damages. You do not want to buy a car that you cannot afford to repair or maintain efficiently; purchase an affordable model both in terms of purchase and maintenance cost.
- Clean Seats
If you have pets or kids, your car seats probably have stains, crumbs, dirt, or hair up to the cushion seams. Remove everything from the cracks using an old toothbrush and a magic eraser to remove sticky things and stains on leather or vinyl. Keep a few paper towels or napkins in the quick for emergency messes.
- Monthly Tire Check
Tires keep the vehicle moving at all times. For this reason, they need proper inflation at all times to function well and reduce the chances of a blowout. Despite you knowing how to inflate your tires, you may not be aware of the right tire pressure. The ideal tire pressure is on the placard situated in the owner’s manual or on the driver’s door jamb.
Inflate tires when cold for a more accurate reading. If you cannot do that, add 4PSI to the suggested amount. Do not forget to check your spare tire and confirm it has the right pressure using a tire gauge.
Health and safety legislation stipulates that all vehicles used for work purposes should be in good condition, safe to use, and suitable for the purpose. Legislation on road traffic also requires vehicles to be roadworthy and safe when being used on a public road. Therefore, whether you borrow, hire, lease, or own a vehicle for purposes of work, ensure that the vehicle is safe for use by maintaining it, which will also prolong its life.
Vehicles undergo wear and tear, which leads to vehicle breakdowns and unsafe vehicles if not properly maintained. It is therefore important to have regular maintenance for the vehicle, which is also enhanced by keeping the car clean.
