Keeping your car clean can reduce maintenance costs and increase the resale value of your car. Car owners recognise that their car is a valuable asset but don't always realise the degree to which regular cleaning can help to limit depreciation and also reduce maintenance costs. Cleaning your car has many aspects and all of these can influence how much your car is worth when you sell it and how much you will spend on maintenance.
Your car operates in an environment that impacts the quality of the exterior .The exterior is sensitive to a host of hazards such as road salt, pollutants and bird droppings. Any and each of these elements can eat away at the cars' metal, chrome and paintwork. Washing and waxing regularly will keep your car looking like new. The paintwork - which includes a primer and numerous further layers including lacquer - works together as a system so a thorough step by step process should be followed to protect the final finish. Following the correct washing routine is important as you can damage the paintwork if you're not careful.
It is not always obvious that regularly cleaning your car reduces maintenance costs. An important factor is corrosion. When mud, dust and other dirt build up on the exterior of the car it stimulates corrosive wear. At best this leads to expensive exterior overhauls as the paint loses lustre and at worst it can cause so much damage that the metal underneath the paintwork is exposed and rust develops. Repairing rust spots can be a very expensive exercise and often involve re-spraying complete panels. Scratches and stone chips on the paintwork can also lead directly to rusting so it is important to touch up any scratches or stone chips with matching paint which is usually available from dealers or specialist car parts shops.
The interior of your car suffers daily wear which leaves marks and scratches on the trim and builds up dirt on the seats. Vacuum your car regularly and treat the dash with a protective product. Clean and buff leather seats and clean spills on upholstery quickly to prevent permanent stains. Keep in mind that regularly cleaning your car inside will mean that when you periodically send it for a valet, the valet firm will be able to devote their energies in deep cleaning and finishing rather than wrestling with the accumulated day-to-day dirt. Everyone likes a clean car and a buyer is likely to be more impressed with a car that looks well maintained.
Whilst a good cleaning regime will ensure that the car is pleasant to occupy and will help in preserving the exterior, it is important to have it professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Valet firms use a comprehensive range of systems and topical cleaning products, designed specifically to address specific areas. The combination of the tools and products can in many cases achieve a far more thorough clean than those available to the retail market. Many of us will struggle to find the time to give the car anything other than a 'quick wash and vac' so regular use of a valet will help to prevent deterioration. Families in particular will know how tough children can be on car interiors, with feet marks on dashboards and on the rear of the front seats and crumbs in ever possible crevice! Just as you shop around for decent car insurance quotes, it is important that you select a reputable valet, ideally one that can demonstrate years of experience and is able to come to you, offering a complete service using the highest quality professional cleaning products.