Whether buying a new car or a pre-owned car, it's a significant investment, and you want to keep it looking new as long as possible. This careful maintenance proves invaluable when the time comes to sell or trade in the vehicle for something newer.
The challenge of maintaining that new car appearance stems from constant exposure to the elements, particularly Canada's brutal winters and corrosive road salt.
However, with proper care and attention, maintaining your car's like-new appearance for many years is quite achievable. It does, however, require some time and effort, but it's well worth the investment.
Here are some tips for keeping your car's exterior and interior in like-new condition.
Keeping Your Car Looking New on the Outside
A variety of car care techniques can help maintain your vehicle's showroom appearance for years to come. Let's dig into some of the tricks and tools for keeping that new car look.
Frequent Hand Car Washes
Regular hand washing forms the cornerstone of car care and preserving that new car appearance. Hand washing a car rids it of all the dirt, grime, debris, salt, bug guts, bird droppings, and other contaminants that can damage your car's paint over time.
When establishing a car washing routine, aim to wash your vehicle at least once every two weeks. In some cases, owners will do it once a week, but that may be too much for some peoples' busy lives.
Avoid the temptation to take shortcuts by using automatic car washes. The brushes in these car washes often pick up rocks and other debris that can damage your vehicle.
When washing a car, use the right tools for the job. Some must-have tools for a proper car wash include:
- Two buckets
- Two bucket dirt traps
- Microfibre wash mitt
- Microfibre towels
- Car wash soap (never use dish soap — it'll damage the paint over time)
- Wheel-cleaning brush set (typically one large brush and several smaller crevice brushes)
- Car window cleaner (Only use a cleaner formulated for car windows, as ammonia in household cleaners can strip the factory or aftermarket tint film)
- Step stool or ladder (optional)
- Hose with a pressure-building attachment or a pressure washer
Throughout the washing process, make sure to open all doors and clean the door jambs thoroughly, as dirt, grime, and salt accumulate in these areas and can cause damage or rust. Plus, pay careful attention to the wheel wells and other areas facing the road. Salt tends to collect in these areas and can cause serious rusting issues. Hit these areas with a high-pressure blast of water to remove all that salt and debris.
You may also want to consider undercoat protection. This adds a protective layer in the wheel wells, on the rocker panels, and under the vehicle that locks out moisture and road salt, thereby preventing rust.
Remember to clean the roof as well. If you have a van or SUV with a high roof, you may need a step stool or ladder to reach it.
Also, wash your car in the shade, as the water droplets can magnify the sun's rays and damage the paint.
Finally, always dry the vehicle with two microfibre towels — one to collect the large amounts of water and one for a final wipedown.
Pro Tip: Always wash and dry your towels and car wash mitt after each wash, as dirt and debris collects in them and can damage your paint.
Touch-Up Wash Between Full Washes
During the two-week interval between complete washes, your car will inevitably encounter various contaminants. From bird droppings to bug guts, you're bound to get some smaller messes here and there.
Every few days, tackle these problem areas using a microfibre cloth, a bucket of water, and car wash soap. Leaving these contaminants, especially bug guts and bird droppings, can cause permanent paint damage.
Periodic Clay Bar Treatment
Have you ever felt a car's surface after professional detailing and noticed it feels incredibly smooth, like glass? This remarkable finish comes from clay bar treatment.
We're not talking about modelling clay — this is specialized detailing clay with fine abrasive properties. When paired with proper lubrication, such as detailing spray or a water and car wash soap mixture, it gently polishes away environmental contaminants from the paint surface. This leaves behind the smooth-as-glass feel you can't achieve with regular washing.
Clay barring a car is time-consuming, but the immediate results and long-term benefits are well worth it. Fortunately, you only need to do this about three to four times per year, but you always want to do it right after a hand car wash.
Pro Tip: Is your windshield looking permanently hazy? Clay bar treatment works on windshields too, restoring them to their original smooth finish.
Paint Protection
The key to maintaining your car's fresh exterior appearance lies in protecting its paint and clearcoat. These give your car its deep finish and shininess, so you need to protect them with car wax or paint sealant.
Car waxes are readily available at local auto parts stores and widely understood by car enthusiasts. You can get a liquid or paste wax, and they can be natural waxes or synthetic polymers. Regardless of the type of wax you choose, they all work the same way. Waxes create an invisible barrier that acts as a protectant from the elements — sun, rain, snow, salt and more — for your car's paint and clearcoat.
Paint sealers are similar to waxes, but they are always synthetic and last four to six months compared to several weeks to three months for waxes. Additionally, paint sealants provide the brilliant, diamond-like sparkle seen at car shows, while waxes create a deeper, warmer finish.
Pro Tip: Applying wax or paint sealer after a good clay bar treatment can deliver a show-car-like finish.
Eliminate Swirl Marks
Even with the most meticulous care, vehicles will eventually develop swirl marks in the paint from washing and general use. In many vehicles, these marks are unnoticeable, but they're impossible to miss in dark-coloured cars. Fortunately, you can easily eliminate these with the right products.
After a full wash and clay bar treatment, use a light to medium car polish. Like the clay bar, this is an abrasive, but it's slightly harsher than clay.
Polish can be applied manually with its recommended applicator, or you can use a foam pad with a random orbital buffer. If you use a buffer, only use low speeds and never hold it in one spot for longer than a few seconds to avoid damaging the paint.
The polish strips away a tiny layer of the clearcoat, taking the swirls out along with it. Once you complete the polishing, wipe the vehicle clean with a detailing spray and apply a wax or paint sealant to finish the job.
Pro Tip: While rotary polishers are available, they demand expertise due to their high-speed operation and potential for paint damage. Orbital buffers are the safer choice for beginners.
Watch Where You Park
While you might typically choose the nearest available parking spot, this convenience can sometimes create problems.
For example, parking under a tree every day can lead to tree sap and other debris landing on your car and potentially damaging the paint. Also, birds frequent trees, and your car will be a perfect target for their droppings.
Additionally, choosing parking spots further from entrances can help prevent parking lot dings. If you park farther away from an entrance, fewer cars are likely to park near you. This reduces the chance of a door accidentally hitting your car and causing a dent.
Consider a Quality Car Cover
Car covers are often debated among car enthusiasts due to the wide range of quality available. But, if you buy a high-quality, custom-fitted car cover with a fleece liner, you'll extend the life of your car's paint.
Indoor covers work excellently for garage-kept vehicles. This will keep dirt and debris off the finish, so there's less chance of it causing small scratches. Ensure it's custom-fitted, as universal car covers will allow dust and dirt to seep in and can rub the debris into the paint. A custom cover will allow far less dust and debris through.
For cars stored outdoors, an outdoor car cover becomes essential. Outdoor car covers have more UV protection and are waterproof. Again, make sure to get a custom-fit cover with a fleece lining, as universal covers can have gaps where water can seep in. The water then sits on the paint under the cover and can cause issues.
As an additional benefit, outdoor car covers prevent harmful UV rays from fading your interior materials.
Keeping Your Car Looking New Inside
While the exterior catches the eye of passersby, you and your passengers deserve to enjoy a fresh, new-looking interior as well. Here are tips on how to keep your car's cabin in top condition.
Install Floor Mats
Floor mats aren't standard in every vehicle, but they're crucial components for preserving your carpet's longevity. It's far easier and cheaper to replace a set of stained or worn-out floor mats than it is to replace stained or worn-out carpet.
Auto parts stores carry floor mats, though the fit may not be perfect for your specific vehicle. If you want a more precise fit, you can opt for custom floor mats available online.
Watch What's in Your Pockets
Upholstery tears often begin as small punctures caused by sharp items carried in pockets, such as pens, knives, and other pointed objects. Always check your pockets before sitting down and remove these items.
Weekly Vacuuming
Accumulated dirt and debris can accelerate upholstery wear, making weekly vacuuming essential for maintaining that new interior look. Using a shop vacuum or a household vacuum with an extension hose, vacuum the dirt and debris from the seats, carpet, floor mats, and crevices.
Monthly Interior Detailing
Dedicate time each month for comprehensive interior cleaning. Start at the dashboard with a microfibre towel and clean water to get off heavy dirt and debris. In the small crevices, use a toothbrush or a small paintbrush to remove any debris.
Once all dust is removed, perform thorough vacuuming, then treat vinyl, plastic, and leather surfaces with appropriate cleaners and conditioners. Vinyl cleaners will include chemicals that protect the plastic and vinyl from the sun's rays. The leather conditioner will ensure the leather or leather-like vinyl upholstery remains flexible and doesn't crack over time.
For fabric seats, apply cloth cleaner with a scrub brush to lift stains, then blot them away with a microfibre cloth. Verify the cleaner is safe to use and won't damage your fabric by first applying it to a hidden area. Some materials simply don't take well to this kind of cleaning and can suffer damage.
When carpets need deep cleaning, use a drill-mounted brush attachment with quality carpet cleaner for effective scrubbing. Alternatively, you can use a handheld brush and old-fashioned elbow grease to scrub the carpets. Use a shop vacuum to suck up any excess water and soap left behind in the carpet.
Complete the process by cleaning interior windows with automotive glass cleaner. Don't use a household glass cleaner with ammonia — the ammonia can damage the tinting on the glass.
Get an Already Top-Notch Pre-Owned Car at Clutch
The foundation of keeping your car looking new begins with purchasing a vehicle that already looks new. All the hard work and cleaning in the world won't make a worn-out car look new again.
At Clutch, Canada's leading online car marketplace, you can find quality pre-owned vehicles ready for your dedicated maintenance to keep it looking new.
Every vehicle in our inventory undergoes our comprehensive 210-point inspection and reconditioning process to ensure they look and perform excellently for years ahead. Throw in your careful care using the above tips, and your pre-owned Clutch vehicle will remain in pristine condition for years to come.
Beyond this quality assurance, all Clutch vehicles come with a 6,000 km limited warranty and our 10-Day Money-Back Guarantee. If you don't love the vehicle within the first 10 days of ownership, you can return it for a full refund or exchange it for another vehicle.
Check out our vast pre-owned inventory and find the car that suits you. We can manage all the financing and paperwork for you, and we'll even deliver it to your home for free.
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