I’m a car expert – here’s how to give your motor that ‘new car shine and smell’

A CAR expert has revealed how to give your motor that “new car shine and smell” – and it’s so easy.

Between leftover drive-through cups, accidental spillages courtesy of the kids and exposure to the elements, keeping a car looking its best can be tricky. 

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For those looking to make the most of the warmer weather and keep their vehicles in top condition, car experts at Vertu Motors have shared their best cleaning tips.

Prepare your car for cleaning

Start by getting rid of any rubbish or clutter in your motor, such as food wrappers, receipts, or tissues.  

Next, remove any items that you still want to keep in the vehicle but want to store away during the cleaning process, like a car seat or toolkit.  

Finally, take out the floor mats from your car, ready to give them a thorough wash on a high heat setting.  

Pre-wash your exterior 

Use a snow foam wash, which is essentially a shampoo for your car, and ideally, a pressure washer or hose to blast away dirt and grime from your vehicle’s exterior. 

During this powerful pre-wash, make sure to pay attention to the wheels and tyres of your car by giving them a spray down.

Dry brush dirt & dust 

Before vacuuming, you want to treat the car’s car upholstery with a dry brush, using it to remove dirt and mud on the seats. 

If you’re struggling to clean dirt or crumbs from certain spots, try using a toothbrush to reach any tricky nooks and crannies.

Freshen up the interior 

Next, it’s time to completely freshen up the car’s interior

Start by treating any stains in your vehicle.

An easy, cost-effective solution for this is to sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over any stains or bad-smelling spots in your car.

Leave to soak for up to an hour, and then thoroughly vacuum the bicarbonate of soda away, along with the rest of the car.  

Wipe down every inch of the car interior that isn’t its upholstery, such as the steering wheel and cup holders.

Make your exterior sparkle and shine

While the pre-clean will have helped remove dirt and grime, this next step will allow you to properly scrub your car to give it a gleaming appearance.  

Fill a bucket with a combination of car cleaner and warm water.

Use a microfibre sponge covered in the soapy water mix, and scrub at every inch of the paintwork in circular motions, including your bumper and car doors, which can be easily missed. 

Rinse the sponge with clean water in a separate bucket to avoid your cleaning mix becoming contaminated with any dirt debris. 

Kill bacteria and create a new car smell 

When it comes to achieving that new car look and smell, there are some steps best left to the experts.

While many drivers rely on their AC, they might not know that bacteria can quickly build up in air conditioning systems, especially when they haven’t been in use over winter. 

So the experts recommend scheduling a professional air conditioning treatment to tackle bacteria.

Keep on top of your cleaning 

As important as it is to give your car a deep clean every few months, prevention is also key to keeping your car looking its best.

For example, it can be difficult to clean away the dirt that gets in the bottom of cup holders.

But, if you line your cup holders with silicone cupcake cases to avoid the crumbs and general residue that ends up at the bottom, they are much easier to remove and clean. 

This comes after drivers were blown away after discovering a £1 hack that leaves your car interior sparkling, and it’s so easy.

Plus, a TikTok user revealed that she uses a laundry detergent capsule mixed with hot water to remove stains from her car seats.