People usually associate spring cleaning with their homes, but they should consider their cars, too. Spring is an excellent time to keep up with the needs and maintenance of your vehicle!
Spring cleaning for your car is more than just getting your vehicle fresh and sparkling clean. Here is a spring cleaning checklist for your car.
Get auto detailing
Go beyond a regular car wash and treat your vehicle to a detailing service. This will help remove all the salt and grime from winter from your car—both inside and out. Luxury auto detailing can include services like hand wash, hand wax, wheel and tire cleaning, thorough floor cleaning, and even leather conditioning.
Schedule an oil and oil filter change
People often forget or put off changing the oil and oil filter in their vehicles. But when you’ve hit the mileage limit or notice the oil warning light on your dashboard has turned on you, it’s time to schedule an appointment! Regular oil changes will keep your engine running efficiently, and a new oil filter will prevent debris from entering your engine.
Test the car battery
Your vehicle may be starting fine today, but a car battery test could prevent you from having an inoperable car at an inconvenient time of your day. A multimeter tool can measure how much voltage is left in a battery and subsequently determine if it’s time to replace it.
Winter weather has most likely put your battery to hard work because low temperatures lead to slower chemical reactions. Spring is a great time to ensure that your battery is still working.
Check the tire pressure and tread
The change from colder to warmer temperatures can affect your tires. With every 10-degree change in temperature, tires could gain or lose 1 PSI (pound per square inch). Over-inflated or under-inflated tires could cause damage to your vehicle and other vehicles if you get in an accident. As part of your spring cleaning, check your tire pressure to make sure it’s at the recommended pressure range.
While you’re checking your tire pressure, be sure to look at the tread, too. Tires need tread to grip the road properly, especially in conditions where the road is slippery. If you notice the tire tread is low, it’s time to get new tires.
Replace wiper blades
It’s best to change wiper blades periodically to ensure that they can effectively remove rain and other liquids from your window. Maybe you’ve ignored the streaks, but it can be dangerous to not clearly see out your windshield. New wiper blades will mean no streaks or smears, which means you can drive safely the next time it rains.
Refill vehicle fluids
There are a lot of fluids in your vehicle that need the occasional top off. Spring cleaning is a great time to measure your vehicle fluids and make sure you have enough.
Here are the few vehicle fluids that need regular maintenance:
- Windshield washer fluid
- Coolant or antifreeze
- Engine oil
- Power steering fluid
- Brake fluid
- Transmission fluid (If it’s an automatic transmission vehicle)
Keeping these fluids at an adequate level will help maintain your vehicle. By keeping an eye on them, you might also notice if your vehicle is losing fluids too rapidly, which may signal an issue with the car. In this case, you should see an experienced mechanic to diagnose the problem.
Deep clean and check the lights
Many people ignore their vehicle lights during the spring cleaning process, but they also need some care. Headlights need a polish to remove any haziness that has built up. You may be surprised by how much clearer your lights will look after a good cleaning.
This is also an excellent time to ensure that your headlights and tail lights are functioning. If they aren’t turning on, you should replace them as soon as possible.
Fix any dents and scratches
Cars are often subjected to minor damage like small dents, scratches, or hail damage. Make your car look brand new by fixing these cosmetic issues. Effective auto dent removal services like paint dent removal (PDR) can remove small dings from the inside of the damaged panel. This can effectively smooth out the panel and make it look like the dent never happened.
Visit your local auto body shop
Your spring cleaning list is much easier to accomplish with the help of experienced mechanics. At Bumpers Etc., we’re dedicated to customer satisfaction and high-quality service. If you need car scratch repairs, auto detailing, or auto repairs, we’re here to help.
Schedule an appointment online, use our virtual estimator, or give us a call at 866-516-1102 to discuss your vehicle. We look forward to serving you.
