Eight cleaning tips to increase your car’s value by £1.4k

According to ‘Buy My Car’, a well-cleaned and maintained car can add up to 10% to a vehicle’s value.

To show this, the average used car price in the UK was £14,100 as of Q1 2021. That means taking better care of your car could add £1,410 in value, on average.

Moneyshake have used their own expertise alongside RAC advice and insights from Klavs Simkus, Founder and CEO of car inspection specialists CarExamer to provide us Brits with the best spring cleaning tips for our motors.

After asking 1,000 UK drivers Moneyshake revealed that 86 per cent don’t wash their car enough and one in four drivers almost never clean their car.

Here’s a rundown of car cleaning tips to keep your vehicle in great condition based on crucial areas of focus via RAC advice, ranging from bi-monthly jobs to annual check-ins.

1. Giving your car seat upholstery an uplift

Vinyl seats: These are simple to keep from marking with a regular once over, using a sponge and mild detergent.

Cloth seats: Using an all-purpose cleaner or carpet solution can help raise stains and make sure they don’t settle.

Leather seats: There are specific leather cleaners available to keep on top of dirt and stains as well as protectant sprays that prevent them in the first instance.

2. Protect and maintain your car’s carpet

A preventative measure to avoid scuffing and wear is to make sure you’re using floor mats – with rubber waffle-style versions being very effective at holding onto the mud and sludge you’ll inevitably trail in. It’s also much easier to hose these down whenever you’re giving the car a clean and replacing them when they’ve worn through than it is meticulously scrubbing rug cleaner into a carpet.

However, sometimes this is unavoidable. In these scenarios use a sponge, scrub brush, and some elbow grease to work up a foam and banish any stains as soon as you find them.

3. Make sure to consistently clean the exterior (especially during winter)

Winter is one of the most important times to keep on top of your exterior car cleaning. That dangerous mix of salt, ice and slush that builds up is a fast-track to corrosion.

The main areas to keep an eye on and give a once over during the colder months are:

• The undercarriage

• Bumpers

• Inside wheel walls

“Probably the most pivotal tip we could offer is to remember not to wash the vehicle if the weather is below freezing” Simkus explains.

In the summer, try to wash your car in the shade where possible as quick-drying car shampoo can leave streaks all over the newly cleaned bodywork which can be a nightmare to get rid of once they’ve settled.

4. A clean engine is an efficient engine

Once a year should do the trick with this one. Keeping your engine clean has numerous benefits.

• It will run cooler and more efficiently

• It’s easier to spot any leaks or issues

• Routine checks (i.e., fan belt, hose) are made easier and less grimy

Before starting, you’ll need to cover the more sensitive components i.e., electricals, distributor and air intake – a plastic bag should do the trick here. From there it’s a simple case of getting out a bristle brush and some grease-cutting detergent to make the surfaces sparkle before giving it a thorough rinse.

5. Treat your car to a wax and polish twice a year

Ideally, once before the heat of summer and a second time before the winter months roll in.

A common misconception is that wax and polish are interchangeable – here’s what you need to know about each:

• Polish: Used to buff out any scratches in the paintwork – correcting existing flaws.

• Wax: Applied to give a protective layer to prevent damage to the car’s exterior.

6. Get more life out of your air filters

It’s important to check your air filters regularly – every other clean if possible – and replace them when they become dirty and full of debris. The recommended intervals for replacement are every 12,000 to 15,000 miles.

However, it is possible to keep the filter clean yourself. Use a cleaning solution and scrub out all the dirt from the filter, rinsing afterward. Then place it on a clean towel and leave until completely dry. Tap out any loose debris, then use a vacuum cleaner to get the thick of it out.

7. Don’t neglect door and window seals

A crucial part of a car’s weatherproofing that’s often neglected is the seal around the doors and windows. Add these to your cleaning checklist by applying silicon or rubber protectant around the weatherstrip which will help keep it on top form.

If you do this regularly with your normal wash, you’ll not only be able to stop the incidence of mould, but it will also reduce the chance of your car door getting stuck to the seal (usually in colder weather) which isn’t just annoying – it can also severely damage the rubber. Steer clear of oil-based products for this job (i.e., the trusty WD-40) as these can deteriorate the weatherproofing.

8. Washing and protecting the dashboard and displays

It’s very important not to neglect the dashboard and gauges as, apart from needing the same TLC as other interior elements, there’s also road safety to consider. A damp cloth and a light touch whenever you’re cleaning the car can help to avoid this.

As for the dashboard itself, there are protective sprays available to help keep the plastic in good condition, reducing the appearance of existing cracks and discolouring and guarding against future scrapes. It’s also worth using a sunshade behind your windscreen on bright days to reduce the chance of fading and warping.