Spring Cleaning Round-Up

It’s time to say goodbye to cold weather and dark days of winter and say hello to the fairer skies and brighter times of spring. Sport Chevrolet would like you to join the season of renewal in Silver Spring, MD, with this round-up of car cleaning tips.

Start inside.

Remove everything from the interior so you can start with a blank slate. Take out anything that’s not permanently attached, such as organizers, air fresheners, or your kids' toys. You can also put away extra winter clothes and equipment, such as coats, scarves, hats, gloves, and ice scrapers.

Use a small stiff brush to loosen caked-in grime on the hard-to-reach areas of the interior, such as between seams, inside cupholders, and around vents. If you have removable and washable floor mats, now is a good time to take them out for cleaning in the sink or with a garden house.

Then vacuum away the dirt inside your vehicle, paying particular attention to the upholstery, floor mats, and carpeting. Use a cleaner specially formulated for your interior, which you can find at your auto parts store. Wipe the hard surfaces until they look good. Don’t forget to take care of the insides of the windshield and the windows.

Work on the exterior.

Park your vehicle in a shady area. If you work on your vehicle in the sun, its hot surface speeds drying time, which can leave water stains on the finish. Fill a water bucket with a cleaner formulated for autos, according to the instructions. Fill another bucket with water for rinsing. Use a sponge or car-cleaning mitt for scrubbing.

Rinse the car with a high-pressure hose to eliminate loose dirt. Then remove any remaining debris, such as leaves and branches, by hand so they don’t scratch the paint. Working from the top down, apply the cleaner and then rinse thoroughly. Clean your sponge or mitt often.

Don’t forget the underbody, which may have accumulated harmful chemicals or the tires. You may need an old toothbrush to loosen the dirt in the crevasses.

Dry off the surface with a chamois or towel. Don’t allow your vehicle to air-dry or you may get watermarks.

To better protect the finish, apply wax to your vehicle according to the instructions.

Try the professionals.

If you don’t have time to clean your car by yourself, take it to a car wash where professionals can take over the job, typically with a machine. They will probably only vacuum the interior, however. If you want a more thorough cleaning, have your vehicle detailed both inside and out. Many detailers will even come to your home or office to do in the chore. Auto detailers are far more expensive than car washes, but the money is worth spending once a year to make your model look new.

Check the tires.

Tires have it rough in the winter. They have to endure ice, snow, chemicals, and deferred maintenance. Check their condition by starting with the air pressure. If you don’t have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, use a tire gauge, which you can buy at an auto parts store. The recommended pressure will be listed in your owner’s manual or on the driver’s side door jamb. It the number is low, fill the tire up at a gas station.

Examine the depth of your treads with a penny. Put the coin top-down into a groove. If you see the top of Lincoln’s head, that makes the tread depth less than 2/32”. You need to replace your tires.

Finally, bring your car into our Service Center to get the tires rotated and aligned. Rotation allows your tires to wear evenly. Alignment ensures that your wheels are pointed in the correct direction and contact the road properly.

Get a spring tune-up.

If you’re coming to Sport Chevrolet anyway to get your tires fixed, why not spring for an entire tune-up? Our automotive technicians are factory certified to work on your auto brand. They’re highly experienced at uncovering issues and fixing them before they become major problems. They can, for example, check out your air-conditioning system, so that it’s ready for the hot days of summer. They rely only on manufacturer-vetted parts to keep your car running at its best.