Autobell® Cleaning Recommendations

Vehicle maintenance doesn’t end after getting your oil changed and your tires rotated. Maintaining the interior and exterior of your car, truck, or SUV can have a big impact on your resale value.

In its lifetime, your car will survive acid rain, snow, salt, brine, sludge, dirt, pollen, bugs, and much more. The most important factor in dealing with each of these dangers is time. The sooner you can wash damaging particles away from the exterior and interior, the better your vehicle will fare in the long run. The condition of the exterior paint and interior fabrics can make a difference of thousands of dollars according to Kelley Blue Book’s valuations.

Recommendations for keeping your car in top condition.

Rules of the Road: A minimum of one car wash per month, including interior and exterior cleaning, is suggested to maintain your vehicle’s current condition. This will eliminate unsightly brake dust that can damage your vehicle’s top coat and tire rims; remove interior dirt and debris that can compromise leather and fabrics; and clean all dirt and grime off the exterior of the vehicle. We also recommend an additional exterior cleaning after any weather events, bird droppings, or bug accumulations, as these can damage your vehicle’s exterior.

Sand

Sand can be a nuisance on both the inside and outside of your car or truck. The longer sand sits, the more deeply embedded it can become in floor mats, carpets, and fabrics. The best time to address sand is as soon as possible. Any Autobell^® Full Service packages include a thorough vacuuming of the interior of the vehicle. This will also include cleaning the exterior and wheels to remove additional sand and debris from the outside of your vehicle. For extra benefit, add an underbody wash to remove any out-of-sight particles.

Sun

The UV rays of the hot summer sun can fade and blemish your vehicle’s paint. To combat the sun as well as other environmental abrasives, we recommend a Full Service car wash including polish, sealer, and AUTOGLOSS^SM, an Autobell^® exclusive. AUTOGLOSS^SM was created to reduce surface adhesion, protect against harmful UV rays, and extend the life and luster of your vehicle.

Leaf Stains

Leaf stains can cause permanent damage to the exterior paint of your car. When leaf stains appear, we recommend washing your car as soon as possible. Our cleansers are industrial grade and created to be tough on stains, but gentle on the top coat. We also recommend our polish and sealer after leaf stains to seal and protect the top coat.

Bugs and Birds

Bugs, bird droppings, and other environmental abrasives cause an acidic reaction with your paint, much like leaf stains. This process normally begins in 24 to 48 hours. To keep these from damaging your paint, we recommend getting a cleaning as soon as possible. If you travel around dawn, dusk, or water areas, and have issues with bugs or bird droppings, we recommend polish and sealer at least once per month to prohibit potential permanent harm.

Salt and Brine

Salt and brine are the two most widely used substances to keep roads safe during adverse weather. They do a good job keeping our roads in better driving condition; however, they have corrosive properties that promote rust on metal parts. Our recommendation is a thorough exterior cleaning with underbody wash. For the following month, we recommend an exterior cleaning as well as underbody wash any time there is rain or additional snow and sleet. Salt and brine may continue to stay on porous surfaces, like roads and driveways, for a while. This makes additional car cleaning important.

**Autobell^® Car Wash is open no matter the temperature or the weather. We are ready to clean your car, truck, or SUV any time you are on the road.

Pollen

What color is your car today? If it is “pollen yellow,” we recommend that you bring it in for a Full Service wash including exterior and interior cleaning. Pollen can get inside your vehicle, including your vents, reducing efficiencies of systems like your air conditioning unit. Pollen can also cause discoloration and promote deterioration of leather and fabrics.