How To Keep Your Car Looking Like New (NAPSA)—Alittle TLC and the right tools can maintain your car’s youthful appearance for years. Here are someeasy, do-it-yourself tips to help steer you in the right direction: Exterior Care Roadtar. Tree sap. Acid rain. All these and more conspire to wear away yourcar’s finish. Regular car washing (every week or every other week) and waxingtwice a yearwill help protect your car’s exterior. The most important thing to remember is to use a product specifically formulated for automotive paint. Never use dishwashing or laundry detergents, which are much too harshfor a car’s finish. Before washing yourcar, park it in the shade andallowit tocooloff. This will increase evaporation time and decreasethelikelihood of water spots. Next, wash off loose debris with a hose. Then mix the cleanser according to directions. Start with the top of the vehicle and work your way down. Makesureto clean headlights, as dust and road grime can reduce headlight beam brightness and impactvisibility at night. When drying headlights and windowglass, makesureto use a disposable towel without adhesives or binders, such as Scorr Contractor Rags In a Box. Interior Care Keeping the inside of a car looking goodis no easyfeat. Here, too, regular maintenanceis key. Make sure to vacuum thefloor mats, carpeting and upholstery on a regular basis and dust the dashboard and console. Clean well between crevices and seat cushions. Use carpet cleaning products to remove stains and spills. Take care when using carpet shampooersthat can leave carpet wet, since car carpet is usually backed by sheet metal, which can rust. For small stains, try using spray-on products. For upholstery stains on fabric, use a soft-bristled brush to loosen ee > Whatever you paid for your car,it pays to keepit running and looking like new for as long as possible. dirt and then clean with upholstery cleaner. Leather must also be kept clean by vacuuming and applying leather cleansers regularly. Make sure to select products specifically designed for the surfaces that you're cleaning. Using the wrongproducts for leather, vinyl or rubber can lead to cracking and drying and other types of damage. Internal Engine Cleaning If keeping the inside of your car clean is important to you, then it makessense to keep the engine clean too. Leaks and other problemsare easier to find if the engine compartmentis clean, too. A clean engine will also run cooler, according to automotive experts. There are engine cleaners and degreasers designed specifically for this task. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions. Afterwards, use disposable Scorr Shop Towels to wipe up any greaseoroil residue. These tips will help put you and your car on the road to good looks and high performance.
