51. Remove The Stains Immediately
Stains can be a pain in the ‘you know what’; the faster you do it, the easier it will be for you. Leather seats are the easiest to remove stains but if you want to remove the stains on cloth-lined interiors or carpets, you have to sweat it.
For instance, to remove coffee stains, you have to dilute the stain with cold water and soak it with glass cleaner. On the other hand, you can remove grease stains using paint thinner, salt, and vacuum cleaner.
52. Headliners And Visors
The headliner is that protective cover on the ceiling of your car. The visor is what you use to block distracting sunrays when driving. Both the headliners and visors are prone to wear and tear if left neglected. Make sure you keep a closer eye on both parts to foresee and fix any small rips that may turn into a bigger problem.
53. Trash Bin
A car trash bin is not much of a necessity but it can help to keep your car interior cleaner than a whistle. Where else are you going to throw those candy wrappers, used tissues and empty cans? Remember, you can get fined for throwing trash out of your window.
Exterior Car Care Tips
The exterior of a car is delicate and if you don’t take care of it with soft hands (not literally), you may damage the paintwork. It’s not just about the cleaning but making your car look like it just came out of a showroom. In case you’re curious to find out, here is the memo:
54. Wash The Car Weekly
Maintaining hygiene is a routine habit. If you’re one of those people that drive to work every day, washing your car weekly is crucial to get rid of the accumulated dust, mud and dirt. A point to note is that you should strictly use cleaning formula designed to wash vehicles since some household liquid detergents and dish cleaners can do more harm than good on your car’s paint.
55. Wax At Least Twice A Year
There is something about a waxed car that makes it very attractive. Maybe it brings back that aura or glow of a brand new vehicle. Apart from making your car pretty and shiny, the car wax protects your vehicle from UV rays. Not to forget, those bugs will just slide off your paint.
On average, you should wax your vehicle at least twice a year.
56. Schedule Annual Professional Detailing
Professional detailing involves cleaning your car thoroughly both inside and out – every last inch of your vehicle that can be cleaned or washed is covered. Sure, it is costly than a typical car wash but it’s absolutely worth it. Not convinced yet? How about it may double your resale value and make your vehicle crispy clean. Actually, professional detailing should be complemented with a waxing service.
57. Keep The Car Under Cover
If it isn’t the direct sunlight that gets your car, it could be the storm, snow, hail that damages your exterior if you don’t cover it. Beyond that, you also know what those birds drop from above. A car cover is an ideal method of shielding your car against such scenarios especially if you don’t park in a garage.
58. Spot Check The Paint Frequently
It’s normal for car paint to fade off after years of exposure to rain, sunlight, snow, dirt, and wind. Even oxygen plays a role in speeding up the paint deterioration process and there is nothing you can do about it. However, you can spot check the paint and schedule the car for a painting service before it gets too serious. Some common signs your car may require a basic paint job include; discoloration, dark spots, peeling, dents, and scratches.
Exhaust And Emissions System
The exhaust system could be the last thing that you think when it comes to your car, but a worn out exhaust system can produce a lot of harmful emissions. Sometimes, the exhaust smoke can sneak into your car which is dangerous since it contains carbon monoxide. If you want to take care of your exhaust system and cut down the emission significantly, the things to check are:
59. Get The Check Engine Light Checked
One way to know if there is a problem with the exhaust is to check the engine light. Granted, there could be a lot of reasons why that check engine light comes on, but in most cases, it may a problem connected to the emission system. Fortunately, you can run the On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) to pinpoint issues such as failed oxygen sensors, exhaust system break down, loose gas cap, engine misfire, and bad catalytic converters.
60. Repair Broken Components
Every single component that makes up the exhaust system matters regardless of how small it may seem. It’s called the butterfly effect; a phenomenon where those minor overlooked details can make a big difference in the grand scheme of things. For example, the exhaust hangers play a supplementary role but if those hangers don’t hold the pipe, the whole system can get damaged. That’s why it’s important to repair every single broken component connected to the exhaust system.