If you use your car frequently, then you most likely spend a good few hours of your day inside your vehicle. Your car faces the different consequences brought about by traveling, such as dirt and pollution, and it is up to you to make sure that it remains in its best condition.
This article will provide you with a few simple tried-and-tested tips and tricks on maintaining your vehicle. In this way, you can be sure not only of your safety but also of the safety of those who ride the car with you. Additionally, these tips would also serve as a way to prolong the lifespan of your vehicle.
Taking Care of the Interior and Exterior Appearance
Aside from improving its overall look, cleaning your car’s interior is a must to keep it hygienic, especially if your loved ones use it too. This habit of cleaning is also crucial in avoiding traffic accidents because fewer distractions are in your line of view.
Protective creams are available in many car shops, and you should definitely invest in one. This cream helps prevent the dashboard from deteriorating and also maintaining the neat appearance of your car.
For your car seats and floor, a vacuum cleaner is necessary. There are some spots inside your car that are hard to reach and little bits of trash that are difficult to clean by hand. A vacuum cleaner with a long handle would easily get this stuff and avoid bugs from finding their way inside your car.
Stains should be removed as soon as possible because the earlier you get them, the easier they are to remove. Letting it rest on your car seat is a recipe for a tough cleaning job.
And, of course, a trash bin that’s always ready for things needed to be disposed of wouldn’t hurt. Make sure you have one, even just a little one, for candy wrappers and other small trash.
The frequency of washing your car’s exterior depends on how often you use it and the kind of travel you take. Three to four times a month is perfect for maintaining its appearance by bringing it to the nearest car wash. However, if you have the extra time, you can probably wash it yourself, especially if it doesn’t need some heavy cleaning.
Additionally, there’s also a way to lessen the number of times you have to wash your car while also upgrading its exterior appeal. That’s by using an automotive wrap and protection film. This material, often made out of vinyl, wraps around the entire car and protects the paint from external damage. Furthermore, dust and other debris would have a hard time sticking to the material, lessening the need for washing your car now and then.
Regular Check-Up/OBD2
The tips written above are just some things you can do on your own to keep your car in good shape. With all the things we have to do in a single day, inspecting our car might be something we rarely do. If you feel like you don’t have the time to check your car’s performance at least once a week, then come up with a schedule to have it checked regularly by your mechanic.
Prevention is better than cure, as they say. A regular check-up lessens the risk of running into accidents because of unseen complications in your car. However, some problems in your car may not be seen by just the naked eye. There are some complications that, without some special diagnostic device, you wouldn’t notice until it starts malfunctioning. However, the good news is that you can easily troubleshoot your car by having an OBD-2 or On-Board Diagnostics 2.
A regular check-up in the mechanic is vital in maintaining your car’s performance, but if you have the time and the budget, having an OBD-2 at your disposal would certainly lessen the money you spend on repairs. This is because you would be able to locate the part that is malfunctioning easily. If you know your way around your car, you can perhaps fix it on your own even.
Having your own car brings numerous benefits to your life. However, not taking care of it properly will cause more problems rather than solutions. That’s why it’s important to understand the various maintenance and diagnostic tasks you can do to keep your car in pristine condition. Furthermore, it would also be a good idea to personalize your car according to your preference. This will make your vehicle different than any other car out there and surely make it worth your money.
