Vehicles are an investment. The truck, Jeep, minivan, or 4WD, FWD vehicle helps you navigate your life. Sometimes we spend way more time in our cars, trucks, Jeeps, etc than we want to and it kind of becomes a second home.
Often, our vehicles become a dumping ground, a runoff of where our lives transition between our physical home and our home without boundaries (the car!). Sometimes it is hard to keep a car clean on the inside and out as life becomes busy.
However, at some point during the wintertime, enough is enough. You gotta use these 5 actionable tips for mid-winter car cleanup. Keep your car/truck clean and keep on hustling.
5 Actionable Tips for Mid-Winter Car Cleanup
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The winter may have you wanting to bundle up and stay indoors, and when it does that on you, imagine the impact it would have on your car. In fact, the harsh winters are probably the toughest on your car, and if you want your car to be in top shape no matter what, make sure you focus a teeny bit on cleanup and maintenance.
Lost In Translation.
Somewhere between a trip to the local Jeep dealer and Jeep ownership, we got lost in transition.
What do I mean? I mean that when we shopped for one of our Jeeps, we had no idea how much we would be using it.
It was an ‘additional’ vehicle to use in between, but… we love this Jeep so much and our local dealer’s incentives that we use it and keep thinking about our next one.
That said, the loss in translation part is about living in the vehicle.
One of 4 drivers is always in the Jeep. It takes a daily beating.
Wet feet, snowy feet, food cups, food stops, friend pickups, hockey bags, grocery store runs, etc.
What’s not clear is who the culprit of messes actually is.
I think we are all guilty of the eat, dump, run.
However, in the end, we need to keep this vehicle clean and ready to go for those great, Pennsylvania winters.
This way, when we are ready to hit the trails or cross country ski, the Jeep is ready and waiting.
Clean your Dash
Don’t be surprised if you find a layer of dust on your dashboard, and often, you may miss out on cleaning this one.
Do a thorough cleaning of your dash, the doors, and your console.
You can make use of a regular auto cleaner and if you’re willing to take things up a notch, use a UV protectant as well.
Focus on the Seats
Every-time you get in and out of the car, your seats get a bit of action, and in time, it results in the wear and tear.
Plus, let’s not forget the occasionally dropping things (especially food items and drinks) on the seats.
If you’ve got leather seats, you need to be even more careful when it comes to preserving them.
Start by vacuuming the nooks and crevices and then moving on to using the upholstery wipes and cleaning liquids to preserve your seats.
Give it a Quick Wash
Salt is Awful.
First things first, salt is a necessary evil. Pennsylvania winters call for road salt to help us drive with a bit more ability.
However, before spring arrives, you might want to have your car all ready- free of rust and corrosion.
Make sure you give your car a regular wash, even in the winter- especially in the undercarriage and parts underneath to remove any salt residue.
Also, to help your car withstand the cold better, you can consider using a spray-on wax.
To protect the paint on your car, you can use carnuba wax!
Window Focus
Cleaning your car’s windows is super easy and straightforward.
All you need is a few paper towels or rags, some vinegar and you’re pretty much sorted.
Vinegar helps give that squeaky clean finish to your windows and removes that film of residue that often impedes your vision.
Plus, you can also use it to clean your cup holders and disinfect it naturally!
Clean the Tires
You might have all-season tires for your car, but winter tires are often the best choice.
Also, cleaning your tires during winters is an absolute must.
It’ll not just help them work better for longer, but also prevent the salt on the roads and the dirt and grime from sucking the moisture out off of them.
You may be considering using a water gun, and if that’s the case, make sure you use a tire and rim cleaner before you proceed.
I personally love dish detergent, it’s easy to use and fine for the tires.
Keep Your Cars Clean And Ready
As I said, vehicles are an investment.
Keep on their maintenance, and keep them clean, everything will fall into place from there.
We heavily depend on our vehicles and they vehicles need us to tend to them. ~ DANA