Hooray! Spring is finally on the way and we will soon be allowed out and about to fully embrace the outside world. After a year where we haven’t driven as often as normal, our beloved cars are probably feeling a bit stale. And, with the prospect of a hot summer where we will be having more staycations and day trips across the UK, our cars will be getting used a lot more than usual. So what better time to give your car a thorough spring clean than now while we still wait to be fully released to the world.

So we’ve put together this guide on how to give your car the ultimate spring clean. Read on and discover how to turn your dusty old motor into a polished pearl ready for the new season.

Wait for a sunny day

You want to have time to give your car the attention it needs. So try and find a sunny day to give your car a clean. That way you have time to wash things down and then leave them to dry.

Clean the windows

It may seem obvious, but you’ll want to clean your windows as part of your big spring clean. With the sun out for longer, you’ll have more days where you’re driving in the evening and maybe getting the full force of the sun’s glare in your eyes. Cleaner windows will help reduce the glare. 

Another thing is that dirt shows up much clearer when the sun is shining, which can obstruct your view. So giving your windows a good wipe down will help prevent you potentially driving into the sun and having your entire window turn opaque.

Get a nice clean cloth and some spray and wipe down each of your windows. Make sure you go from the inner part of the window to the outside, and be careful not to leave streaks.

It might also be worth taking a look at the windshield wipers. If they have been worn down over time, they are likely to be spreading the muck on your window rather than clearing it. So replace the blades if they are showing signs of wear and tear.

Clean out the carpets

The carpets in your car are likely to have accumulated a lot of dirt and grime over the colder months. Whether it’s winter walks in the countryside, or you’ve just been walking around in the rain and getting your shoes dirty, a lot of that muck and mess is going to be transferred to your car’s carpets.

Take them out and give them a good old fashioned beating. You should be able to remove a lot of the surface dirt with some physicality. Once the most obvious dirt has been shifted, get your vacuum cleaner and go over each of the carpets one-by-one. Your vacuum might have a special brush head that’s ideal for cleaning the carpets in your car.

Once you have most of the dirt out of the way, you should then give it a spray and a scrub with some carpet cleaner. Just make sure you don’t turn into one of those people who wants people to take off their shoes before they get in your car.

Clean the upholstery

While you have your vacuum cleaner out, get in to your car and give your seats a good hoovering. Pay particular attention to the gaps between the cushions, as this is where crumbs and detritus can get caught quite easily. If you want to be really thorough, hoover beneath each of the seats too, as again that’s where dirt is likely to get stuck.

Clean out the boot

The upcoming staycations and day trips mean you are going to be using your boot quite a lot over the summer. And while it may be okay to have it a little dirty when its solely used for shopping bags and the occasional excursion, if you are heading to the beach or for a picnic, you’ll want a nice clean boot to put your stuff inside.

Take out the boot carpet and give it a good clean to start with. You’ll probably take a lot of crumbs and bits of rubbish with it, but you’ll want to hoover inside where the carpet has just been removed, especially around the spare wheel (if that’s where it’s located on your car).

Now is a good time to take stock of what you keep in your car. You may want to add some spare water and oil, so you have the coolants you need should your car overheat at some point. Sun shields for your children and blankets for long journeys are also a good idea.

Clean out the air filters

The warmer weather means you might be turning on your air con, so now’s a good time to clean out the air filters. Whether you suffer from hayfever or other allergies, or just want cleaner air, removing some of the debris that accumulates in the filters is a good idea.

Another benefit of cleaning out the filters is that it improves efficiency. So the air con won’t be working as hard to cool you down, meaning you’ll save on battery power and maybe a little petrol too!

Whether you suffer from allergies or not, the filters in your car’s air conditioning system needs a good clear out. It can easily become clogged with bits of dirt, pollen and leaves, which it will just circulate around the car. A nightmare for allergy sufferers. But they also make the air con much less efficient, meaning you won’t be feeling the benefit when you switch it on. Give the filters a thorough clean and you’ll be thankful later!

Treat your car to a wash and a wax

Why not give your car a nice treat as you finish the spring clean? Buy yourself some car cleaning products, maybe even some wax, and give your car some TLC.

Make sure you follow the instructions carefully. After all, your not paying some local kid to do it for you. Give your car the time it takes to clean the bodywork. Be extra vigilant for bird mess, as this can leave nasty marks on your car.

Once you’ve cleaned, use the wax preparation to give your car some extra protection. After all the hard work you’ve put in, you’ll want to make it last.