How To Get Your Car Ready For Spring

The beginning of a new season brings anticipation for weather changes, new activities and holidays. However, when the temperature rises and leaves grow back on the trees, it prompts us to dust off the cobwebs left behind from winter by spring cleaning. Although you may dread this time of year and cleaning (during any season) it’s always nice to start fresh and clean once the warm weather comes. 

Continue reading to learn all about the simple tips needed on how to get your car ready for spring!

Why is Spring Cleaning So Important?

Winter can be quite a troubling time in regards to the overall cleanliness of your vehicle. As the weather warms up, it makes for a great time to go through your winter clutter. Giving your car some attention prior to summer days will ensure that it looks shiny and clean, and that it runs even better!

Despite your car just naturally needing a clean after all the rain, salt, ice and snow that winter brings, it is important to try and always keep your car in the best condition. A car is a depreciating asset and loses value the minute it is driven off the lot, so keeping your car clean, and up-to-date on maintenance can help your car hold its value longer. 

5 Tips for Getting Your Car Ready for Spring

1. Wash the Exterior

Washing the exterior of your car seems like a no-brainer when it comes to getting your car ready for spring, but there are certain steps you can take while cleaning your car’s exterior to really make it stand out (for the right reasons). 

When cleaning the exterior of your car, you should use a specific car cleaning soap and a microfiber cloth or sponge. Washing your car is pretty self explanatory, however there are certain parts of the wash that often get overlooked, like underneath your vehicle and in between the wheels. It’s important to clean these areas of your vehicle, as dirt, debris, and rust can collect and overtime become more difficult to clean. Waxing your car’s exterior is also a great way to make it look as good as new. Waxing your vehicle’s exterior has many benefits including: 

• Sealing your cars paint
• Adding a shiny coat
• Repelling water beads
• Protecting your car’s exterior from the elements 

2.Toss the Trash and Wash the Interior

A lot of stuff can accumulate in your car throughout the winter months. Whether it be leftovers from the meals you enjoyed in your car, or a seemingly endless supply of random papers and receipts, cleaning out your car’s interior will make it feel brand new again. 

While some luxury vehicles have leather seats that don’t need much upkeep, most people have cars with upholstered fabric that will need a bit of TLC from time-to-time. Since dirt and other materials can transfer form your body and clothes to your seats, when it comes time for spring cleaning, your seats need some extra attention. 

The best way to wash your car’s seats is to use hot water and a warm cloth. Although there are some fabric cleaners on the market, sticking with just plain hot water will clean your seat’s fabric without leaving a soapy residue or stain.

3. Dust the Vents and Vacuum the Floors

Your car’s vents may not look dirty, but they are filled with dust that you breathe in every time you use your air conditioning. Using a compressed air can in combination with a vacuum hose works well for cleaning your air vents. Simply blow the compressed air in all of the vents to loosen particles and suck the debris up with the vacuum. 

Vacuuming your car’s floors is also an important part of getting your car ready for spring. The carpet on your vehicle’s floor can collect so many things, like wrappings, food particles, dust particles, and pet hair. It’s crucial to use a high power vacuum cleaner to remove all of the dirt from your car so you can enjoy a clean new ride. You also shouldn’t forget to vacuum on top of, and under your car’s mats. If your car has rubber all-weather mats, you should remove them and wash by hand with a rag and warm water. 

4. Replace your Tires and Windshield Wipers

Replacing your winter tires with regular ones when the grass turns green may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s a step people often forget. Winter tires lack grip on the road when it’s dry, and if you drive on your winter tires all year long they won’t be of any use when winter rolls around again. The best thing to do is to either remove and replace your tires yourself, or stop by our service center and we can get the job done for you. 

Windshield wipers seem to be the last thing on drivers minds when it comes to getting their cars ready for spring. Maybe because they are relatively inexpensive, or maybe because windshield wipers don’t seem that important in the grand scheme of things. However, replacing your windshield wipers after winter is a necessary step in preparing your car for spring, as they normally get worn from being used so much in the winter months. 

5. Get your Oil Changed

Keeping up with your oil changes is key to preserving the life of your vehicle. Before you’re completely done with your spring cleaning, you should bring your car in for an oil change, and also ask the technician to thoroughly check your vehicle to make sure everything is working properly. After all, you want to make sure that your car is running just as well as it was last spring!

Don’t Forget About Spring Maintenance

Although a lot of these spring cleaning tips can be done at home, there are certain things that can only be done at our service center. Before replacing your ice scraper and blankets with beach umbrellas and lawn chairs, you should bring your vehicle in to have a routine maintenance check. At Lexington M&L, our certified technicians will be able to tell you if anything is wrong with your vehicle after driving it all winter long. Use the button below and contact us to schedule your service!