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How to spring clean your car

The winter can be a bad time for car owners. Ice, high winds and heavy rain can all cause chaos on the roads, costing more than a few UK motorists their cheap car insurance premiums. However, there isn't much we can do about that, other than being sensible about when we venture out in our cars.

There are other effects of winter on your car too, although they aren't necessarily so obvious. Your vehicle may well have suffered slight damage as a result of the large amounts of salt, grit and grime that it picks up from the roads. This damage can be quick and easy to fix if caught early but could get much more expensive if left untreated.

A spring clean is the perfect time to pick up on anything that has gone wrong with your car over the winter period. So if warmer weather approaches and you want your car to be ready for whatever the next year has to throw at it, follow our simple three-step solution.

1. Chuck out that clutter
Most people are guilty of getting a little lazier in the winter when it comes to keeping their car free of clutter. The cold weather discourages us from getting everything out of the car, meaning that some possessions will undoubtedly sneak under seats and into glove boxes and stay there for quite a while.

This is the time to get rid of that newspaper that has been sitting on the passenger seat, that book in the boot and the carrier bag that has been floating around the footwell in the back. Clear out anything and everything that you don't need - but don't fill up the garage with it all as your motor insurance company will reward you with cheaper car insurance quotes if you keep your car there.

2. Clean, clean, clean
Now your car is free of rubbish, you can get to work on cleaning the inside. If you have an extension lead that can reach your car, you can vacuum it perfectly well from home. Otherwise, visit a petrol station that has a vacuum cleaner facility.

Now, vacuuming is never the most fun job in the world but you will really notice the difference if you do it thoroughly rather than rush to get it done as quickly as possible. Keep going until every centimetre of your car is spotless. Whilst vacuuming you may come across stains on the carpet or seats. If so, treat them with an appropriate cleaning product and follow its instructions.

Once you are satisfied with the inside of your car, it is time to start on the outside. Use a car shampoo and wash the entire vehicle with cool water, starting from the roof and working down. Make sure to pay special attention to your wheels and the underside of your car, as these are often the places where dirt builds up the most but are easy to miss. You can then dry, wax or polish, and then buff your car with a clean towel or chamois leather for a perfectly shiny finish.

While you are cleaning, you may well find the odd scratch on the paintwork or little chip on the windscreen. It is best to get these seen to as soon as possible. You should be able to get any minor windscreen damage fixed for free under your car insurance policy without affecting your no claims bonus. However, it is worth checking with your motor insurance firm to ensure this is the case, as policy details do vary between providers.

3. Check condition of components
The first thing to take a look at is your tyres. Examine them for any damage to the rubber and ensure that the tread is more than 1.6mm deep (the legal minimum). If you find a problem on either of these points, the tyre will probably need replacing.

Also check the tyres to see if they are of the pressure recommended in the handbook and if not, inflate them to the correct pressure at a garage. Whilst you are inspecting them, it is worth having a close look to see if the wear is even across the tyre. If it is not, there may be an alignment issue which should be investigated by a garage.

The next thing to do is check that all your lights are working. Test out your headlights, full beam, brake lights, reversing lights, indicators and fog lights. You might find it handy to have someone else stand behind the car to check your brake lights are working whilst you depress the pedal. However, if you are on your own you can carry out the test in front of a reflective surface, such as a window or shiny garage door. This way, you can simply look in your rear view mirror and watch for the reflections of the lights.

It is very common for windscreen wiper blades to become worn and ineffective after many days of use over the winter period. Thus, you should make it a priority to check your wipers for any damage to the rubber. If they judder over the windscreen or leave smears, you will almost certainly need new wiper blades.

Now it is time to pop the bonnet. Firstly, check all the fluids (oil, transmission fluids, water and screen wash) and top them up where necessary. You can then move onto the battery, where you should ensure that the connections are tight and there are no large deposits of dirt or debris.

The whole process should only take a couple of hours, by the end of which you can feel satisfied in knowing that your car has been fully spring cleaned and is now raring to go. However, do remember that once a year isn't nearly enough for some of these checks; you should also carry out basic maintenance on a regular basis.

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How to spring clean your car

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