Cost Effective Ways To Clean Your Car
If you’ve got a steamy, head-turner drive, you probably have to spend a handsome amount to get it cleaned every other week. All you have to do is drive through a fancy little car wash and your car will be shiny and squeaky clean in no time. It’s compelling but if you’re even a little diligent about keeping your ride clean, the money is going to add up quickly. So, what’s the solution? A few cost-effective practices may require a little more effort but will help you get similar results. Let’s dig in!
Reuse Your Cleaning Microfiber Cloth
When cleaning your car, there is a microfiber product designed for each task — extra-absorbent drying towels, interior detailing cloths, compound application pads and more. The cleaning cost really builds up when you go for multiple microfiber cloths to detail a vehicle. But what if we told you there was a cost-effective practice that can help you get the same results?
The safest cloth you can use to clean your car is a soft microfiber wash mitt. Even if it’s not a dedicated mitt, you can make do with a cloth made out of flannel fabric. Use it to clean your car and as soon as your cleaning cloth gets filthy, wash it, squeeze the water out and reuse it.
Waterless Car Wash
An average automatic car wash session consumes between 30 to 50 gallons of water. Do the same job in your driveway and a 20-minute session could take up to 100 gallons of water.
At an automatic car wash, they may have a recycling system to remove contaminants and reuse water but when you’re at home, the water goes down the drain or into your groundwater reservoirs, leaving a negative environmental impact. If you’re in an area with water shortage problems, there may even be added electricity costs.
These issues are mitigated with a waterless car wash, which is a liquid product that absorbs contaminants off your car into the solution which can then be cleaned with a microfiber towel. It’s a quick, easy, environment-friendly and cost-effective way to clean your car. The process can be less desirable if your vehicle is heavily soiled. When that’s the case, remember to give it a simple water bath first.
Interior Cleaning
Plastics, vinyl and leather materials require the application of multiple kinds of chemicals for squeaky clean results. While a detailed interior cleanup is mandatory every couple of months, you can still make do with gentle scrubbing, a waterless car wash and car cleaning gel.
We also suggest keeping leather mats that you can easily take out and wash for seamless cleanup.
Cleaning Undercarriage
The wheel wells and undercarriage are the filthiest sections on any automobile so it only makes sense for you to start the washing from here. While you may be able to use your microfiber cloth and waterless car wash for the visible exterior and interior, the undercarriage is where you have to draw the line and resort to a lawn sprinkler in beast mode. It’ll help dislodge the big stuff. You’ll then have to scrub it with an appropriate cleaning brush and a cleaning chemical.
Say Goodbye To Stubborn Spots: Use Lemon Juice or Vinegar
If you come across some hard water spots or stubborn dirt and grime, use lemon juice or vinegar from a spray bottle and carefully scrub the marks off with a microfiber cloth.
Final Thoughts
Your car shouldn’t have to suffer just because you’re sticking to a budget! Make sure you follow the cost-effective cleaning tips we’ve mentioned for the best results. The key is to strike a balance between cleaning it yourself and visiting that fancy car wash around the corner for a detailed cleanup once in a while.