{"id":251837,"date":"2020-04-28T06:30:13","date_gmt":"2020-04-28T04:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/?p=251837"},"modified":"2020-04-27T19:32:51","modified_gmt":"2020-04-27T17:32:51","slug":"give-your-car-a-home-valet-before-it-comes-out-of-quarantine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2020\/04\/28\/give-your-car-a-home-valet-before-it-comes-out-of-quarantine\/","title":{"rendered":"Give your car a home valet before it comes out of quarantine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your car has probably spent weeks sitting in the garage gathering dust.<\/p>\n

Now that the end of lockdown is in sight, it\u2019s time to make it sparkle again before you journey with it into the great outdoors.<\/p>

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Having a clean car is almost like having a new car and it\u2019s just so much nicer to drive around in.<\/p>\n

Pieter Niemand, national director of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), a proud association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), said dirt and dust can settle in so many out of the way places, especially when a car\u2019s been sitting idle for some time.<\/p>

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A dirty car doesn\u2019t look great, but the bigger problem is that a layer of grime on your vehicle can damage the finish and make it wear down faster than it should, resulting in rust and other issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cIdeally owners should wash their cars once a week,\u201d said Niemand.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlong with regular maintenance, it helps maintain resale value more than people realise.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n

Maintenance is crucial as motorists keep their cars for more than 10 years<\/a><\/p>\n

Get up close and personal with your car<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So, before you take your vehicle on that long-awaited post-lockdown spin, consider giving it a home valet by following these twenty easy steps.<\/p>\n

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  1. Remove any rubbish from inside the vehicle \u2013 slide seats forward and remove floor mats to ensure you don\u2019t miss any hidden wrappers.<\/li>\n
  2. Using a dry paintbrush, dust the vents of your air conditioner or fan and suck up the dust as you brush with a handheld vacuum to prevent it settling elsewhere in the vehicle.<\/li>\n
  3. Clean all the knobs and buttons on your dashboard and doors with the brush and vacuum<\/li>\n
  4. If you\u2019re handy, remove the cabin air filter and replace with a new one. This should be done about once a year and can affect the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems if its clogged. It\u2019s a fairly easy DIY task, and is usually accessed by removing the cubby-hole or glove box. Consult your car\u2019s manual for details on this.<\/li>\n
  5. Use a pencil eraser to gently scrub any sticky patches off vinyl or leather.<\/li>\n
  6. Scrub any dirt off vinyl with an old toothbrush and diluted dishwashing liquid.<\/li>\n
  7. Polish the hard plastic on your vehicle with a little olive oil on a paper towel. Use the same to wipe down the dashboard and cup holders for a shiny odour-free result.<\/li>\n
  8. Using a spray bottle of water and a squeegee, collect any pet hair from your upholstery and then vacuum up the clumps of fur afterwards.<\/li>\n
  9. Using a toothbrush, remove crumbs and dirt from the seams of your seat cushions and vacuum them up.<\/li>\n
  10. Clean the upholstery in the car with an all-purpose cleaner, a scrubbing brush and a sponge. Avoid drenching the fabric by dipping the brush in the cleaning solution and scrubbing out stains. Spray with linen spray once you\u2019re done to ensure your car smells fresh.<\/li>\n
  11. Clean any child car seats with the same technique above and use a toothbrush to reach any tricky corners.<\/li>\n
  12. Apply stain remover to any stains on floor mats and wash them in the washing machine (or scrub with upholstery cleaner as above) and air dry.<\/li>\n
  13. Hang an air freshener in your car to keep it smelling fresh (or make your own with bicarbonate of soda and essential oils in a bag)<\/li>\n
  14. Wash the outside of your vehicle with car soap (not dishwashing soap as it can damage the finish but baby shampoo can also work) and warm water, using a sponge.<\/li>\n
  15. Clean your windshield with steel wool and glass cleaner or vinegar.<\/li>\n
  16. Clean your windows with glass cleaner or vinegar \u2013 and remember to roll them down to ensure you clean the grime from the tops too.<\/li>\n
  17. Wipe windshield wipers with rubbing alcohol \u2013 this will prevent them making smears on your windscreen.<\/li>\n
  18. Mix bicarbonate of soda with warm water and use to remove stubborn bugs from your grille and bumper.<\/li>\n
  19. Shine your headlights with toothpaste and water.<\/li>\n
  20. Use wheel cleaner or vinegar and a brush to clean your car\u2019s wheels, rubbing dry with a sponge or towel to polish the aluminium rims.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Your car will look and feel so much more pleasant when it\u2019s been properly cleaned and you\u2019ll want to spend time in it.<\/p>\n

    Now the next step is to wait for the green light from government to take your clean car out for a spin.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Ashley Kiley (Journalist)\u00a0ashleyk@caxton.co.za.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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