The Interior of Your Vehicle

• Vacuum regularly to remove dirt, salt, leaves and other items that can damage carpets and floor mats.

•  Leather interiors should be cleaned with leather products that are  designed to penetrate the pores – avoid high-alkaline content which can  bleach the color.

• Use only upholstery cleaners designed for cars, not household cleaners.

•  Use a vinyl protectant regularly to prevent fading and cracking and  apply protectant with a rag to avoid spraying directly on the dash.

• Vinyl dashes can also be cleaned using furniture polishes like Lemon Pledge, which leaves a nice smell, too.

The Exterior of Your Vehicle

• Avoid extreme heat and cold by keeping your car parked in the shade or a garage.

• Avoid gravel roads when possible, which can cause paint chipping.

• Do not park directly under trees, which may drip sap onto your vehicle.

•  Immediately rinse gasoline, oil, antifreeze, and transmission fluid and  windshield solvent spills off your finish – but do not wipe.

• Flush dirt, bugs and leaves from the front of your radiator with a brush and garden hose to prevent cooling system problems.

•  Remove leaves from your car as soon as possible to prevent the release  of acid that can permanently stain your automobile finish.

• Avoid brush-style car washes as they collect dirt which may scratch the car’s finish.

• Wash in straight lines with overlapping strokes to reduce the standing water you need to dry off.

•  Be sure to wash the inside bottom edge of doors, lift gate, hood and  trunk to eliminate the trapped dirt and moisture that can cause  premature rusting.

• Rinse dirt from moving parts, such as suspension components.

• After driving in salty conditions, always wash your car to prevent corrosion, fading and rust.

• Get a complete vehicle detail at least once a year.

• Do not “dry wipe” your car as it may cause scratching.

• Don’t place grocery bags, luggage or other objects on the car top or trunk.

• Use the lowest setting in do-it-yourself car washes to avoid “blasting” grit into the car’s finish.

•  Never wax your car in direct sunlight to prevent the surface  temperature of your car from causing the chemicals in the wax to damage  your finish.

• Look for car wax, such as Meguiar's wax products, which is safe for your car’s finish.

• Avoid washing your car in the sun.

• Rinse off as much dirt as possible before washing.

• Clean tires first then clean wheels to eliminate brake dust and road salt corrosion.

• Never use household soaps or detergents.