Save Time, Effort With The Right Accessories To Clean Your Ride

Simplify the effort of cleaning your vehicle by using the right tools that save time and elbow grease–and turn winter grime into a sparkling shine for spring.

“Having the proper tools while cleaning your vehicle helps you do a more thorough job,” said Jim Dvorak, product specialist at Mothers car care. “It is also safer for your vehicle finishes–whether it’s painted surfaces or leather upholstery.”

Household items such as a kitchen scrub sponge can damage the finish, Dvorak said.

Dvorak recalled a neighbor who used a kitchen scrub sponge trying to remove bird droppings. Unfortunately, she damaged the hood paint in the process.

Instead, with a bit more patience, using car wash soap and a wash mitt could have accomplished the task effectively as well as safely.

Detail brushes are good for use inside and out, Dvorak said. While they may look like a toothbrush, the split-end bristles are designed to prevent scratches. Bristles also are longer to help you clean hard to reach areas, Dvorak said.

Here’s Dvorak’s list of recommended accessories you can use at home to give your vehicle the “Wow!” look:

Prefer washing by hand? Start with the right bucket. Choose one that has a built-in grit guard to help keep dirt from your car off your sponge or washing mitt. Grit guards provide a surface to rub your sponge or washing mitt on to release dirt and debris and trap it at the bottom of the bucket, leaving your sponge or mitt clean, wet and soapy.

“Alternatively, a larger bucket will suffice,” Dvorak said. “Just be sure you don’t pick up debris from the bottom by hanging the mitt on the edge.”

Choose the right mitts or sponges. Make sure it is designed for use on cars. Mitts made with microfiber chenille reduce the chance of scratching your vehicle’s painted surfaces, while being very effective. Sponges are also available with a microfiber chenille cover.

Make your tires look like new with a tire brush. They’re designed to remove stubborn debris and road dirt off your tires without harming the rubber. They also remove the “blooming,” an additive to rubber that helps keep it pliable, but oxidizes into a brown color.

“Your tire brush can restore rubber to its natural shade of black,” Dvorak said. “Consider using a protective product to keep the tires looking great by fighting back against blooming.”

Keep your wheels free of corrosive brake dust with a wheel brush or wheel woolie, helping you clean those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies of most alloy wheels.

Invest in a pack of microfiber towels to dry your vehicle and remove water beads. Left to stand on the surface of your vehicle’s paint, water droplets can become unsightly whitish stains.

Dust your car with a soft static-charged wool duster that’ll collect and hold light dirt particles, not just shuffle them around. Clean away the dust frequently to keep your vehicle looking great between washes.

Speed up your car wash work with a power washer, especially useful for large trailers and motorhomes. Be sure to get one that has a built-in soap dispenser. This will let you mix soap with pressurized water from your washer, and depending on how dirty your car is, could save you the time and effort of scrubbing by hand.

“Power washers work well if you have trailers and off-road vehicles,” Dvorak said. “Otherwise, we recommend a traditional microfiber mitt and bucket. It’s effective, safe and inexpensive.”

If you do use a power washer, consider getting a foam cannon attachment. It envelopes the vehicle in foam, and the heavy suds dissolve the dirt and rinses off easily.

Purchase some cleaning putty to collect dust and dirt from hard-to-reach areas like air vents.

Looking for a pro detailer shine? Consider a buffer designed for the home car detailer. They are intended to polish your vehicle’s surface before waxing. If you like high gloss shine, a buffer can bump the sheen up several notches.

“You don’t need a lot of money to care for your car,” Dvorak said. “For most people, the largest purchase they make is their vehicle. Protect that investment with routine washing and cleaning–both interior and exterior. Use products specifically designed to clean, condition and protect vehicle finishes.”