It’s springtime, which means it is time for the annual spring cleaning. Now, most people will take a quick trip around the house and clean places they usually avoid, or even cleaning up the yard. But, most often forget to look at their car when it comes time for spring cleaning. In my opinion, your car takes the biggest beating during the winter. From cold and wet weather to salt, and even the occasional pothole. So, let’s go over what you should make sure to check every spring!

The first thing you want to do is wash the exterior. Even though the rain has washed away the dirt, there is a good chance there is still grime and even salt lingering on your paint and undercarriage. I could go into explaining how to wash your car, or I could show you in this video below.

After you wash the exterior, it is time to give the inside some love as well. The reason why we want to clean the car first is to be able to have a clean surface to check for damage or wear. To clean the interior, start by cleaning out any trash, even under the seat. After that, quickly vacuum out the car, making sure to get all the dirt and junk in the hard to reach areas. If you have floor mats that are covered in salt and dirt, you can take them out and hose them off. Just make sure to let them dry in the sun completely before returning them back in the car.

Once your car is completely clean, take a quick walk around and look for any damage. The most important thing is to look for rust, bubbling in the paint, and even spots for future rust. If you spot any rust, it is best to take care of them early, as rust spreads quickly. It’s also a good time to look at the wheels, tires, and brakes. If you see any damage to the wheel and tire or you feel a thumping when driving, chances are one or more of your wheels are out of balance. This could have been caused by hitting a pothole on the winter roads. This is a problem you will want to correct right away, it is important because it can not only affect the handling but cause premature wear on other items.

Spring is also a good time to make sure your car’s fluids are in good shape. First is to make sure your tires and spare tire are properly inflated. The springtime is always a good time to check on that spare tire as well. You may wanna go deeper and replace your air filter along with your cabin air filter. Each car is different, so I would suggest doing a quick search on where your filter is located and which filter you need.

If you need help doing so, or would like any of our sales staff to do a 360 sweep through your vehicle give us a call at   (617) 773-8000 or click here.

If you want to learn more tips and tricks about cars, check out our other videos based on car care here or below!