Do you want your car to stay showroom fresh for years to come?
If so, you’re not alone. The problem is most car owners fail to understand the impact dirty vehicles have on their wallets.
It’s not just about pride or looking nice.
Cleaning your car matters when it comes to protecting your automotive investment. A well-maintained vehicle retains more value and will save you money down the road.
Sounds great, but where do you start?
Interior/exterior care. Washing vs. waxing. DIY methods vs. professional detail.
There’s a lot that goes into keeping your car looking new. But don’t worry!
We’re breaking down everything you need to know about caring for your vehicle, inside and out.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- How Vehicle Appearance Impacts Your Wallet
- Interior Detailing vs Exterior Wash
- What Is Auto Interior Cleaning?
- Exterior Car Care Best Practices
- How Often Should You Clean Your Car?
How Vehicle Appearance Impacts Your Wallet
Simply put: vehicle appearance has everything to do with resale value.
It’s not an opinion; it’s hard science.
A Kelley Blue Book survey found that 77 percent of respondents said they would rather purchase a clean car that appeared to be well taken care of versus a similar make and model that wasn’t clean.
When it comes to buying and selling vehicles, first impressions matter.
“Buyers make decisions within the first few seconds of looking at your car,” according to Kelley Blue Book.
Let’s look at it another way:
If your car is covered in mud, trash covering the seats, and candy wrappers loaded up in the cup holders, what do you think buyers are going to assume about the rest of your vehicle?
That you didn’t take care of the maintenance either.
Dirty cars lose owners money. Simple as that.
Not only will potential buyers walk away, but your vehicle’s resale value drops dramatically when it isn’t cleaned.
In fact, Dent Wizard shared that over 80% of vehicles fall into the “Fair” category when they’re being sold or traded in.
That means the majority of vehicle owners are leaving money on the table by not cleaning their cars.
If you can keep your car in “Good” or “Excellent” condition, you’ll be in the minority of sellers who get top dollar.
Interior Detailing vs Exterior Wash
Let’s tackle exterior vs. interior cleaning services first.
When people think about washing their car, they usually picture spraying soap all over the vehicle and then rinsing it off.
There’s a lot more to protecting your automotive investment than just washing and waxing your vehicle’s exterior.
Exterior Washing & Waxing Services Include:
- Exterior wash and dry
- Paint clay bar and polish
- Sealcoat or wax application
- Wheel cleaning
Interior Detailing Services Include:
- Interior vacuuming
- Surface scrubbing and brushing
- Upholstery steam cleaning
- Conditioning of dashboards and plastic trim
Does that mean you should spend equal time cleaning the inside and outside of your vehicle?
You could. But it’s about striking a balance.
The inside of your car is just as important as the outside. If you spend all day detailing your vehicle’s exterior, but skip the interior, it shows.
You wouldn’t buy a car with flawless paint and dirty interior, would you?
Buyers see that uneven treatment and assume your vehicle wasn’t maintained properly.
What Is Auto Interior Cleaning?
Ah, the dreaded interior.
This is where most people fail to properly care for their car.
When was the last time you had someone clean the inside of your vehicle?
Many times, car owners wait until trash has piled up or their kids smash strawberries into the seat fabric before getting interior cleaning services.
While keeping your car interior immaculate is a great goal, the interior takes just as many beatings every day as the exterior.
Coffee spills, muddy shoes, pet hair, food stains, you name it.
Professional interior detailing services include:
- Extractive deep cleaning of carpets and fabric seats
- Leather conditioning and treatment
- Sanitization of air vents and HVAC systems
- Odor elimination
- Upholstery stain removal
Steam cleaning is one of the best ways to sanitize your vehicle’s interior. This method kills bacteria without destroying fabrics and surfaces like carpets and upholstery.
But it reaches further than traditional cleaning methods.
Professionals offering interior car detailing near me can steam clean areas you’d never think about that are chock full of germs.
Wait… There’s bacteria in my car?
Yes, there is.
Research from Aston University discovered that cars have higher bacteria counts than toilets.
And not just anywhere in the toilet. Every car boot they tested contained fecal matter.
Yuck.
Gearsticks, drivers seats, and dashboards were also high on the list.
That’s why having your vehicle cleaned by professionals more than once a year is important.
Exterior Car Care Best Practices
Your vehicle’s exterior takes a beating just trying to get you from point A to point B.
Sunlight fades paint. Bugs bombard your ride. Sap from trees stick to windows. Salt rusts your car’s body.
If you want to protect your investment, wash your car.
I know, I know. Washing your car is obvious. But you’d be surprised how many people skip this important step.
Instead of just washing your vehicle, consider this care regimen:
- Exterior car wash
- Clay bar soil elimination
- Paint polish
- Car wax or sealcoat
There’s a new kid on the block these days that’s taking the detailing world by storm.
Ceramic coatings are becoming extremely popular as an option for vehicles.
The formulas create a barrier that’s much harder to break than traditional wax. Dirt and grime don’t stick to your car like they used to.
You still need to wash it. But water beads right up and rolls off.
Does that mean you shouldn’t wash and wax your vehicle?
Of course not.
Like we said before, don’t skip the simple stuff because you think new technology can solve all your problems.
How Often Should You Clean Your Car?
This is a great question and one that many vehicle owners struggle with.
If you own a car, you should be washing it on some kind of routine basis.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Do you park under trees with loose sap?
- Are you always driving in construction zones kicking up dust?
- Do you have children or pets that ride in your vehicle?
- Do you eat food or drink soda while driving?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should be cleaning your vehicle more than once every few weeks.
A good baseline to start with is washing your car on the outside and vacuuming it on the inside every two weeks.
Get the interior detailed once a month and utilize a professional detail service three to four times a year.
Simple schedule to follow:
- Every week: Quick wipe down of steering wheel, dash, and door handles
- Every two weeks: Complete exterior car wash
- Monthly: Complete interior vacuum and surface clean
- Quarterly: Bring in the professionals for a full detail
Nobody is saying you need to clean your car every single day.
But you should be sticking to a routine that works for you and your lifestyle.
Wrapping It All Up
Protecting your automotive investment really isn’t that difficult.
You’ve got to commit to doing something, however.
You can drive yourself crazy trying to figure out the perfect products to use or how often you should detail your vehicle.
Just remember this:
Cars that are cleaned regularly retain more value and are healthier for drivers and passengers.
Let’s recap real quick.
- Keeping your car clean will save you money when it’s time to sell or trade in
- Detailing the interior is just as important as washing your vehicle exterior
- Professional detailing services do what most DIY methods cannot
- Stick to a routine that works for you and your car’s needs
There’s an entire industry devoted to vehicle cleaning for a reason.
People understand the importance of keeping their cars healthy.
Whether you’re doing it yourself or leaving it to the professionals, the key is to actually do it.
You worked too hard saving up for your vehicle.
Don’t settle for less than it deserves.
