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Cost-Efficient Car Detailing at Home
8 • Thursday, March 13, 2025

(Family Features) Having your
car professionally detailed is likely
to set you back a chunk of change,
but with the right supplies and a
little spare time, you can get similar
results at home.
Whether you're washing away
winter grime or just giving your ride
some overdue attention, follow
these steps to get your vehicle in
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Assess your vehicle's condi-
tion. If there's a specific problem
Call Roxie at
you need to address, such as stains
835-9455 x 102 or excessive insect buildup on your
front bumper, those are areas you'll
or email want to focus your time, energy and
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Purchase the necessary sup-
@email.com plies. A car cleaning kit could sim-
plify the shopping process, but you you may want to shampoo them ments such as allowing time for a
after a deep vacuuming to remove bug remover to soak. In general,
may need to supplement with addi- stubborn stains.
tional items, such as a spot treater, start with a rinse, followed by scrub-
Return belongings to the inte- bing with a mitt then an all-over
to achieve the best results. The es- rior. Before you add everything rinse. Use a chamois towel or other
sentials include a sturdy bucket,
back into your vehicle, take time to drying cloth to avoid water spots.
washing mitt, soft bristle brush, soft wipe down items and sort out any
rags, a dust rag, automotive soap, Add finishing touches. If you're
unnecessary clutter. It's a good time using wax or planning on specialty
glass cleaner, a vinyl or interior-safe to reorganize your storage areas to treatments like tire cleaning, those
cleanser, vacuum and wax, if you
be sure the items you use frequently will be among your final steps. Last
wish. are in easy reach. You can also re- but not least, clean the exterior win-
Empty the vehicle. Removing
plenish supplies such as facial tissue dows with glass cleaner to remove
all your personal possessions pro- and hand sanitizer.
vides a blank slate for cleaning and streaks and leave them sparkling.
Wash the exterior. Follow the Find more practical vehicle
prevents you from having to work instructions on the product's label to maintenance
around or worry about damaging tips at eLiving
wash your automobile's exterior. today.com.
your belongings. Also remove any Pay attention to special require-
elements of the vehicle you may
want to clean separately, such as
floor mats, console inserts and other
removable pieces.
Tackle the interior. Start by
removing debris from crevices and
wiping away dust and other gunk.
Then, with the initial layer of mess
removed, go back and wipe down
all surfaces using a cleanser. You
can also clean the interior windows
at this stage, and be sure to wipe
down the console, especially if you
have a touchscreen that is covered
with fingerprints.
Vacuum thoroughly. Using a
small vacuum or hose with strong
suction, pay special attention to
high-traffic areas and spaces where
trash and debris tend to settle, such
as between the seat and console.
The floorboards will likely need the
most attention, but don't overlook
the seats, and especially the area
where the seat and back meet as this
crevice can trap a great deal of dirt.
Clean the floor mats. Chances
are good your floor mats rival the
exterior for the dirt and grime they
accumulate. Depending on how
heavily soiled they are, and espe-
cially if they're carpet-style mats,