Cleaning a Used Car
Keeping your vehicle clean is one of the best ways to retain its value and continue enjoying it for years to come! However, when you purchase a used car, you might find yourself wanting to clean and sanitize it. If you don’t want to pay for someone to detail your new-to-you vehicle, our team has a few cleaning tips for you.
Determine What You Need
The first step to cleaning a used car is evaluating its current condition and determining what all needs completed in order to make it feel fresh. Even if it has been detailed after the previous owner sold it or traded it in, it doesn’t hurt to do your own cleaning!
Make sure to check all storage spaces and under the seats to create a full picture of the vehicle’s current condition. From there, you can decide if it needs a deep cleaning or just a simple wipe down.
Gather Supplies
After completing your evaluation, you’ll want to gather the necessary supplies. Depending on how much cleaning you want to do, you’ll need to find the right cleaning products and tools. For example, if you only want to sanitize the high-trafficked areas, you may only need one container of disinfectant wipes. If you plan to shampoo the seats or floorboards, you may have to bring out your upholstery cleaner!
No matter how much cleaning you plan to do, make sure to research the materials on the interior of the vehicle. If the owner’s manual wasn’t included in the sale, most manufacturers provide online access to the manual of each of their models.
Clean the Exterior
Even if you’re focusing heavily on the interior of the car, you’ll want to take a moment to clean up the exterior, too. Pay attention to the condition of the headlights, fenders, and windows. You can find specialized headlight cleaning kits to increase visibility and cleaning products that will enhance the appearance of the paint. Again, be careful about which products you use and only choose options made for the material and vehicle type.
Taking time to clean a recently purchased used car will not only give you peace of mind, but it will help you get to know the vehicle better! Visit us at one of our five Western Michigan locations to have a look at our used inventory. We proudly serve Grand Rapids and the surrounding communities.