Here at the AA, we warmly welcome the arrival of spring. As birds chirp and flowers bloom, the cleaning fanatics amongst us gear up for a good ol' fashioned house spring spruce up. So it makes sense to combine this (in-between dump runs) with checking over your vehicle and taking stock of what impact the winter months and any reduced usage may have had.

To help you out, we have put our collective car heads together to come up with our top tips for a spring car clean. It's time to shine!

Exterior

Yes, a $20 wash will take the dirt you can see off, but the trick to keeping your vehicle sparkly clean is in the details. If you have the time and the right products (and some elbow grease) you can get that showroom shine back in no time.

• Without regular cleaning, conditioning and treatment, your vehicle’s shimmering exterior is prone to fading, cracking and peeling. The paintwork can also be affected by things like UV damage, road grime and bird droppings (we swear they aim right for them!)

• If you are wondering how often your vehicle needs to be cleaned and detailed, it's best to consider how often the vehicle is driven, the conditions it’s exposed to and the length of time it spends sitting under the sun. Think of it as trying to get the most protection on to your vehicle’s surface and creating a ‘barrier’ against things that can harm that precious paintwork. We recommend using an AA Motoring Premium Car Wash Pack, which sets you up with everything you need to ensure the inside and outside of your car is clean, sparkling & tidy. Head on over to shop.aa.co.nz to grab yourself one. 

• We recommend to always check what stage of water restrictions are currently in your local area.

• Check your headlight lenses. If the lens isn’t a glass one, chances are high that the lens may have a glazed look to about it. A simple application of a light cut and polish should clear the worst of it. You can purchase a cleaning kit or leave it to a professional detailer if required, or the headlight replacement may be required if the lenses don’t recover.

 Interior

• Unless you park next to a giant dehumidifier (unlikely), there is a high chance that some moisture has entered your vehicle over the winter months, especially if you park outdoors. To combat this, we recommend using a portable moisture absorber like Damp Rid.  Just pop one inside your vehicle for a few days and you’ll be equally amazed and horrified at how much moisture is actually sucked up. Alternatively, wait for a super hot sunny day, open all the doors and let the sun work its natural magic. Fresh as a spring daisy! 

• Treat your car's internal surfaces to a clean with some automotive wet wipes to get rid of dust and grime that may have accumulated, paying attention to frequented areas like cup holders. It's best to avoid shiny silicones on the dash under the windscreen as they may cause the surface to reflect the sun more than normal. If you’re using a spray, be careful not to smear the inside of the glass.

• Like your home, your car is just more comfortable if it's clean and tidy. If you consider that the average Auckland motorist can spend up to 20 working days each year in their vehicle stuck in traffic alone, (and that’s not even including driving time) it makes for a good case to keep it nice and neat. 

• It's a good time to empty those drink bottles or coffee cups that have been lying around. Vehicles can quickly become cluttered with rubbish, circulars, clothing and who knows what else (especially if your car involves the transportation of little people). It's important to consider that clutter will not only diminish the appeal of your vehicle, but will also create safety hazards and projectiles in the event of an emergency. If you don’t have access to a suitable vacuum cleaner for your vehicle, you can use the commercial ones located at most service stations for just a few dollars.

• Often the biggest source of clutter can come from those items that are only needed occasionally. You might be a tad guilty of keeping the sports equipment, camping gear, and the odd road trip supplies in the car full time.  You could keep these items in convenient containers and store in accessible areas of your home or garage. The easier these items are to access (load and unload), the more inclined you will be to only bring these along when they’re needed. Removing heavier items will also increase your fuel economy. Win-win!

• For safety reasons, you want to ensure the driver’s area is a clutter-free zone.  Nothing should ever be able to fall near the driver’s feet and impede the use of the pedals. If you like to kick off your footwear, make sure to get into the habit of placing them well under your seat, or better still, pop them behind your seat for easy access later.

• Taking stock of your floor mats is also a good idea, especially as if they’re not secured or the correct fit, the mat can affect the pedal operation which can sometimes hinder the brake or unintentionally press the accelerator pedal.

Make sure to visit aa.co.nz/shop to check out a selection of products perfect for your vehicle’s spring clean!