Useful Guidelines for Keeping Your Car Clean
Beyond the personal satisfaction of driving a clean, well-kept car the main reason to keep it maintained has to do with your wallet. Look at any car valuing service website (Edmunds, NADA, Kelly Blue Book) and you will see the difference in value between cars rated in good, fair or poor condition ranges $1000 or more. Keep your car in great shape by removing all trash every time you come home; take care of spills immediately after they happen and take an hour each month to thoroughly clean the interior and exterior of your car.
Cleaning Your Car
Exterior.
We recommend washing the exterior of your car once a month and waxing your car once a year. In the winter months the City of Boulder uses magnesium chloride on the roads. Be sure to give your car a good rinse (including the underbody) between washes. When we have frequent snowstorms if you go to an automatic car wash, we suggest spending a few extra dollars and having them clean the underbody. For your monthly wash you can go to a car wash (see more detailed information below) or follow our 5 Steps to a Perfect Wash & Wax.
Interior.
We recommend a thorough interior cleaning every quarter. Again, you can have a full-service car cleaning company perform this service for you or follow our 7 Steps to a Beautiful Car Interior.
Car Cleaning Options
Car Detailing Services.
A great time-saving option is to use a full service car wash. We prefer touchless drive through car washes that use high-powered spray to clean the car. Full service car washes usually offer a variety of other services. You can have your car washed and hand-dried, vacuumed, waxed or thoroughly detailed. In Boulder County we recommend Black Diamond or The Puddle. There are also professional detailing shops that clean your car inside and out by hand. A service to consider if you have a special car or are preparing your car for sale.
Car Washes.
There are two types, the automatic drive-through and self-service bays with spray wands. The main complaint about drive-through car washes is that the rotating brushes leave small swirls and scratches in your paint. (Most of these are being replaced by the newer touchless technology). Likewise at the hand-held stations, use caution with the foaming brushes that sit on the ground and can have small rocks and dirt lodged in them that scratch your car.
