The Citizen, 2012-10-25, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012. PAGE 15.
MS –Much like curb appeal
improving the chances of a sale on
your home, having a car that is
presented well inside and out may
boost the amount of money and
potential of a resale on your vehicle.
Even vehicle owners who don’t
anticipate selling their vehicles in
the near future should maintain the
vehicles to ensure they are safe and
sound.
After home and work, a car is
where many people spend most of
their time. As a result, a vehicle can
easily become soiled, scratched or
overrun with clutter. Maintaining the
interior of your vehicle need not take
much time or effort, but it should be
done often enough to keep on top of
the mess. Here’s how to start.
REMOVE CLUTTER
The first step in cleaning the
interior is to remove the excess items
that may have accumulated in the
car. Busy families tend to leave toys,
books or clothing in their vehicles.
There also may be discarded food
wrappers or beverage containers.
People who commute also may
accumulate a number of items in
their cars, including business
materials. These items should be
sorted through and put where they
belong before tackling the rest of the
cleaning work.
VACUUM
Much of the dirt and debris that
accumulates in vehicles can easily
be removed with a vacuum. If you
do not have one, visit a self car wash.
Remove the floor mats and set
them on a flat surface. Thoroughly
vacuum the mats to clear them of
dust, dirt, food crumbs and any other
debris. Vacuum the floor of the car
as well as any seat upholstery that
may be a catch-all for crumbs. Using
a soft-bristled vacuum attachment,
you also can remove dust from the
vents, speakers and the centre
console of your vehicle.
SPOT CLEANING
Spills and stains do occur in
vehicles, just as they do elsewhere.
Cleaning these stains may require a
little elbow grease and a cleansing
agent. Most automotive supply
stores will sell an upholstery cleaner
designed for car interiors. You can
also use a mixture of laundry
detergent and water applied with a
slightly damp rag or sponge. Go
over each area that is soiled so you
can devote adequate time to each
stain. The same process can be used
on the vehicle’s carpeting. Use a
brush to really clean heavily soiled
areas.
Leather upholstery can be more
delicate than cloth upholstery. When
cleaning a leather interior, use only
products that are designed
specifically for leather so as to avoid
damaging the interior.
DETAILING
A barely moist cloth can be used
to clean the plastic components of
the dashboard and consoles of the
vehicle. The goal is to wipe away
any dust and any minor stains or
sticky areas without saturating
important electrical components. It
is always better to spray polish or
Keep a clean interior, here are some tips
Nice and clean
A clean interior can make all the difference when selling a car or just enjoying it yourself on a
long Sunday drive. (MS photo)
Instant win prizes must be redeemed at participating retailers by close of business on December 31, 2012. The online sweepstakes
ends with all entries received by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on December 31, 2012. Complete contest details available at www.mopar.ca.
R & S
ALIGNMENT SERVICE
ALIGNMENT - SUSPENSION SERVICE
& TIRES
519-357-1230
Hwy. 86 West, R.R. 3 Wingham, Ont. N0G 2W0
2012 2012FALL CAR CARE 2012
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