5 Keys to Proper Spring Cleaning

You are never too young to learn good habits.

Kids often learn to wash the car with dad as they are growing up. I still get a kick out of my daughter washing her Little Tykes car as I wash my own car. Many people continue to wash their cars the same way dad did because dad is always right of course!

However, most kids realize (usually around the age of 15 or so) that dad isn't perfect. Here in the Midwest, the first car wash after the harsh winter is the most important for proper car care. So while your dad may still be the smartest person in the world, here are some tips and habits he may have forgotten to mention:

1. Safely remove the salt and grime built up over the winter with as little friction as possible. If you have access to a pressure washer, use this to rinse the vehicle first before rubbing your cars paint with a sponge. If you do not have a pressure washer, use one of those self-wash bays. Do Not - Use the brush or dry afterward at a self-wash bay. More: Do's and Don't's of car washing
   
2. Use two buckets to wash your car. One bucket will be your soap bucket while the other will be your rinse bucket. Wash your car one panel at a time while rinsing your sponge or mitt often. After squeezing your sponge or mitt clean in the rinse bucket, dip in the soap bucket and continue washing from top-down. More: Info on the Two-bucket Method
   
3. DO NOT SET SPONGES, MITTS, OR TOWELS ON THE GROUND.
4. Ideal time to wash a vehicle is in the morning before 10am and at night after 5pm. This keeps direct sunlight from causing water spots on your paint.
5. Protect your paint! Waxing your car isn't only for motorheads and show cars. Keeping a protective layer on your vehicle is essential to prevent serious and expensive paint damage. The typical clearcoat on a car will last 10 years before eventual damage results from exposure to UV rays and other environmental dangers. If your car is over 5 years old and has never had a professional detail, now is the time to get it done to extend the life of your paint!
   

Proper car care and regular maintenance is strongly suggested to keep your car value high. When reselling a car, price can vary as much as $4,000 between a 'fair' condition vehicle over a 'good' condition vehicle. And while these tips and habits are not a replacement for a good professional detail, proper car maintenance is key in keeping your car clean and minimizes the chance of further paint damage.

With the summer fast approaching, TS Detailing is looking for a location to host our first Free Detailing Seminar of the year. We take the tips and habits picked up over the last 10 years of detailing and present it in an easy, hands-on class for anyone from beginner to professional detailer. If you would like to host a Detailing Seminar for a car club, booster club, or non-profit fundraiser, please contact Todd at 920-470-1754 or email.

Download our Car Care pamphlet for more car care tips and maintenance suggestions.