Tips on Car Spring Cleaning04.7.2023 | Okan Sengullu

From Bucaro Brothers – Ways to Spring Clean Your Car and Prep for Summer

As winter gradually starts to loosen its grip, many of us start looking forward to the pleasures of summer, including, possibly, summer road trips. Before summer arrives and we start making those trips, it’s a good idea to clean off and clean out all the gunk and junk that’s accumulated on and in your car during winter.

Tips for Spring

To keep your car problems to a minimum during the coming months, here are some of our best spring cleaning tips.

1. Get rid of the salt and synthetic deicer.

In areas like Illinois, as we all know, these things are used extensively to keep our roads open and passable. But left on the undercarriage of your car, they can do a lot of damage. The easiest way to clean it all away is to take your vehicle to a professional car wash and pay for a package that includes an undercarriage wash.

If you’re a dedicated DIY kind of person, you can prepare a 50-50 mix of water and vinegar in a spray bottle and crawl under your vehicle to clean off the accumulated gunk. Be sure to wipe the sprayed areas down.

2. Give your car a gentle washing and waxing.

If you didn’t take your car to a professional car wash, give it a nice gentle hand washing to clean off all the contaminants that have accumulated during the winter. People often ask, “Can you use dish soap to wash your car?” You can clean your car with dish soap, but it’s much better to use a car wash solution.

After washing, dry it thoroughly with a microfiber cloth to remove any remaining dust and dirt. Then apply a coating of carnauba wax to protect against the summer elements.

3. Check your tires and wiper blades.

If you’ve used winter tires, change them out for all season tires and check the tire pressure. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, which will probably be between 30 and 35 psi.

Next, check your windshield wipers and clean off any accumulated dirt and grime to prevent scratching your windshield. After cleaning, check to make sure they’re operating properly. If they’re cracked, torn, or worn down, just replace them. It’s a minor expense that can help prevent damage to your windshield from faulty wiper blades.

4. Do some cleaning under the hood.

Yes, some spring cleaning should be done here, too. Get rid of loose dirt by lightly misting the engine, then apply a degreaser to all components, followed by a light, quick rinse.

5. Clean up and declutter the interior.

First, get rid of all those old coffee cups, burger wrappers, and water bottles that have accumulated during the winter. And stash the ice scraper, extra gloves, and other winter paraphanalia you won’t be needing any time soon.

After doing all that:

• Clean all the interior glass, preferably using a glass cleaner formulated for vehicles rather than standard glass cleaner that contains large amounts of ammonia.
• Clean the floor mats and carpets using a stiff bristle brush to loosen dirt and mud and then vacuum thoroughly.
• Clean the leather seats, steering wheel, and shifter boot with a leather conditioner and a microfiber cloth.
• Replace the cabin air filter. This should be done yearly or every 12,000-15,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Expert Service at Bucaro Brothers Auto Care

We hope you find our spring cleaning checklist helpful. And beyond that spring cleaning, for any kind of mechanical maintenance or repair, we hope you’ll bring your vehicle to Bucaro Brothers for the best service available in Chicagoland.

We’re conveniently located in Lincoln Park. All our technicians are ASE-certified, and we maintain and repair all makes and models, both domestic and foreign.

For mechanical service and summer road trip preparation second to none, come see us at Bucaro Brothers Auto Care today!