Welcome back to the Proje’ blog! We hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas and are busy making those New Year’s resolutions in time for the end of the holiday period. Well, why not make one of those resolutions better care of your car?
In terms of modern technology, cars last a long time. Computers start to slow down and suffer from overuse after 2-3 years, cell phones are pretty much the same and TVs become outdated within months and are then isolated from updates, forcing you to buy new ones fairly regularly if you want to stay up-to-date with the latest technology. Cars, though, should last you years. However, they do need a bit of looking after if you want to join the ranks of vehicle owners who keep their pride and joy for years, racking up six figures on the dashboard. And it isn’t just about cleaning – although that is a big part of it. A lot of it is your attitude to your vehicle and its environment. Here are our top 5 tips for nurturing your vehicle into middle and old age.
1. Change the way you drive
It can be really tempting to develop bad habits, drive too fast or generally get a bit lax with the way you treat your car day to day. But if you start revving your car too much, you’ll start putting too much strain on the engine. Dry steering – where you move the wheel while parked? The tires will suffer. If you drive stick and you don’t park in gear, you’re putting extra pressure on your handbrake, and you wouldn’t want it to snap if you’re in neutral! Accelerating too fast? You’ll get that wheel spin now and then – that’s your tires again, but it’s also your paintwork and wheels, as skidding kicks up debris on to the body of your vehicle. Your car is probably the most or second-most expensive thing you have (after your house if you own one), so treat it nice and it’ll be good to you in return.
2. Fix problems early
The number one biggest cause of issues with vehicles is people leaving little problems, either through laziness or worry that there will be a problem that costs too much, that develop into bigger problems that can be seriously damaging to your car – and your wallet. Unusual sounds, sights and smells could all be a problem. Is that a new light on your dashboard? Can you smell rubber or oil? Is there a bit of rust on your paintwork? Get it sorted straight away, before it becomes a dangerous leak, a problem with your brakes or a massive bit of rust that means you need a respray or a new bit of panelling on your bodywork. Sure, you might have to spend a bit of hard-earned cash, but think about what you might be saving in the long run.
3. Get that service
Get your car serviced at least once a year if you don’t know what you’re doing under the hood. Check the oil and fluid levels are right, get the tire pressures checked and the steering reclibrated if necessary. All these things will prevent potential problems.
4. Look after your car inside and outside
Washing your car isn’t just about looks. If you allow dirt to build up, it can cause rust, stains and chips that then need fixing. Keep your car clean with a high-quality detailing product like our Vital Car Wash Soap, and then get it protected using a sealant. For a really great product that waxes and seals at the same time, take a look at our Hybrid Wax Sealant. Our Hybrid Wax Sealant doesn’t just deliver a beautiful shine; it seals your newly shiny exterior from all kinds of contamination – brake dust, excrement, water, UV rays and pollution – all for up to a year. It’s durable, resistant to extreme temperatures, hot or cold, and will have your car turning heads everywhere you go with that smooth, radiant shine. The secret is in the ingredients; the synthetic formula provides the best results for the overall finish, but also creates a direct bond with the surface of your vehicle, meaning that a really strong seal is created, so nothing can get in.
On the inside, think about what the state of your clothing and footwear might be when you get into your car. If you’re an outdoor kind of person, get all-weather carpets in. And think about regular cleaning and protecting from sweat, dirt and food – look at our Alpha Interior Cleaner and Leather Cleaner for a great all-in-one cleaner; our specially-designed formula is not only pH neutral, it’s colorless, leaves no residue on your leather and smells of febreze. Alpha Interior Cleaner & Leather Cleaner will penetrate your leather and work from the inside to lift out dirt, oil and grease and preserve the quality with no residue or deterioration. Better still, it’ll take dirt straight off your other surfaces too, so you can just keep using it until your whole interior is done! There’s also our Benchmark Fabric & Upholstery Cleaner, a lather cleaner designed to lift and remove stains, set debris and nasty odors from your carpets, fabrics and upholstery without leaving a chemical smell or risking the more sensitive fabrics in your vehicle. It is ammonia-free, bleach-free and solvent-free, so you clean and protect the interior of your vehicle at the same time, restoring the quality of your fabric and leaving you with a good-as-new look to your interior.
5. Find yourself people and products you trust
Finally, take your time finding a garage that you can trust. You don’t need to just go with the first, the nearest or the cheapest option. There are a lot of cowboys out there, so check out the reviews and if you aren’t happy with a service, don’t use it again. Similarly, with your home or pro detailing products, look at the reviews, read the write-ups and go with what feels good. At Proje’, we spend so much time researching and creating high-quality detailing products that are innovative, easy to use and highly effective, so we hope you love our products as much as we do, and we become your trusted brand!
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this week’s blog – stay tuned for more tips and tricks next week.
If you have any questions about any of the techniques or products that I’ve mentioned in this post, just add a comment below and we’ll post a reply! Remember that we stock only the best auto detailing supplies, so why not click some of the links in this blog post, or visit our products page to find out more? From all of us at Proje’, Enjoy the Process!
