Just like all the most important things in life, our car deserves a little TLC from time to time. The reliable vehicles that take us safely from A to B on a day to day basis can always benefit from a little pampering, so here are my top tips on how to look after it and keep it clean so it can continue to be your reliable set of wheels for as long as possible. I hope you enjoy having a read.

CLEAR OUT THE CLUTTER

The more we use our cars, the more rubbish they seem to acquire. So, first things first, let’s get the inside of the car de-cluttered and looking organised, fresh and clean. But I’m not just talking about throwing out those old McDonald’s wrappers. Oh, no! I’m talking about really getting under the seats and getting stuck into all the nooks and crannies that typically get neglected.

The space underneath the kid’s car seats tends to be the worst area of our car. With discarded Kinder Surprise toys, bits of chewed up biscuit and all sorts of ambiguous items glued to the upholstery, this area usually warrants a little more time than the rest. But it’s not necessarily just litter that’s cluttering up your car. There might also be a mouldy gym kit that’s been festering since mid-January when you gave up on your New Year’s Resolution. Or a broken pushchair or spare car seat taking up room in the boot because you have nowhere else to store it. My advice would be to get rid of them. Cars use way more fuel when they’re weighed down, so getting rid of the heavy stuff means you could cut down the cost of your petrol!

CLEAN THE INSIDE

Once you’ve cleared out the clutter, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and give your car’s interior a proper clean. The first thing I usually do is dust down all the flat surfaces with a microfibre duster, and then use the vacuum cleaner to give the seats and carpets a good vac. If you don’t have one already, I highly recommend investing in a cordless vacuum cleaner, as you don’t need to worry about the cable reaching from the house to the car. And they usually come with loads of different attachments too, which makes the job a lot easier.

Once the car is nice and clean and tidy, I then hang an air freshener from the rear-view mirror to ensure it stays smelling fresh for a good few weeks. My favourites at the moment are the Yankee Candle Car Jar’s, and we currently have the gorgeous Red Raspberry scent hanging in our car. It’s delish!

GIVE IT A WASH

I think it’s safe to say we’re all probably spending way more time indoors than outdoors at the moment. So what better way to ensure you’re getting some fresh air than by heading out to give your car a good wash?! Not only will you be able to see whether there’s any damage lurking beneath the grime, but you’ll also remove a layer or two of dirt. At this time of year that will include salt from the roads which is corrosive to your car’s bodywork. It’s much better to get this removed sooner rather than later so as to avoid serious problems further down the line.

WAX IT

You’ve given it a good wash, now why not go a step further and wax it too? Waxing will help restore your car’s paintwork to its former glory. But it won’t just help to keep your car looking fab, it will also protect it from the kind of corrosive’s you’ve just washed off. Think of it as an added layer of protection for your car!

FILL IT UP

I think it goes without saying that you should always make sure your car has enough petrol. But I thought I’d add it in to my list anyway. After all, you won’t be going very far without it! And if you have a small-to-medium-sized business that operates a fleet of cars, you might want to think about picking up a Texaco Fuel Card.

A fuel card is a credit card-like payment device that is designed for businesses operating a fleet. It doesn’t matter whether that fleet consists of one or one thousand vehicles; a fuel card works in the exact same way. Why not head on over to their website to find out more!?

CHECK YOUR OIL

Motor oil is essential to your car’s performance. Its most important job is to lubricate all the moving parts in your engine so they don’t grind and tear themselves into dysfunction. It also transfers heat away from the combustion cycle and traps and holds all the nasty byproducts of combustion, sending it to the oil filter. If your engine doesn’t have enough oil, your car is at risk of going kaput.

To ensure your car always has enough oil, it’s important to get in the habit of checking it regularly. Your owner’s manual probably recommends that you do this every time you fill it up with petrol, but in all fairness, every other time should be plenty. Why not give 

CHECK YOUR TYRES

If you decide to do just one piece of maintenance on your car this spring, check your tyres. Having the correct air pressure in them will ensure they perform to their maximum potential. You could even go one step further and treat your car to brand new tyres. It’s the easiest way to ensure your vehicle is safe and roadworthy.

BOOK IT IN FOR A SERVICE

And last, but certainly not least, I genuinely believe that a serviced car is a happy car. Keeping a car regularly serviced ensures that it runs as reliably and efficiently as it possibly can. It also gives garages the chance to perform software updates where necessary and, in many cases, catch any little niggles that might turn into much bigger, more expensive problems if left untreated.

And there you have it, my top tips for giving your car a good old pamper session this spring. Whether you’re driving to and from work or are leaving your car on the drive for the foreseeable future, they’ll ensure your car is well looked after and ready to tackle whatever comes our way.

Do you have any other tips for pampering your car this spring?
If so, let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from you guys.
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