Cleaning Tips
Here we have a huge list of Top Tips to help you with every aspect of vehicle cleaning.


INTERIOR
• When cleaning door shuts, start the lance "off the job" then move the jet onto the area to be cleaned. This gives more directional control over the recoil and spray. Point the lance slightly away from the car when hosing the door shuts and the result will be a dry interior.

• When cleaning rubber floor mats, use a dressing sponge with Non-Silicone Highstyle to create a cleaning and conditioning treatment. This will also leave no excess fluid on the mats.

• To hasten the dispersal of malodours, fill a syringe with BioBrisk and inject directly into the upholstery where the stain has occured.

• When dressing interior surfaces and vents, coat a small paintbrush with Silicone Spray to get into those difficult areas.



EXTERIOR
• When cleaning any glass, make sure surface is cool and out of the sunlight. This will help prevent streaking.

• Use Silver Seal Paint Protector on Alloy wheels to give a high gloss finish with added protection from brake dust.
It also makes re-cleaning much easier!

• Maintenance of fabric convertible tops is straight forward if you follow these basic guidelines. First spray the car with water. Clean the vinyl top with a mild detergent such as Autowash or Duet and a gentle scrub brush. Make sure that you use a non-scratch brush on plastic windows, as they will scratch very easily. When clean and dry you can protect the top using Silver Seal Fabric Protector.

• When cleaning vehicle windows, always remember to lower the window 1/2 an inch and clean the top, so when the customer uses their windows they are totally clean and they don't have a dirty 1/2 inch.

• Autosmart's Tango can be used on alloy wheels once they have been cleaned to make them look more glossy. Simply spray on and wipe off.

• When polishing your car, apply the polish to the whole vehicle and then buff the polish off, rather than doing a panel at a time. This gives time for the polish to dry properly on the paintwork, and will give better results. N.B. Avoid polishing vehicles in extreme temperatures.

• NCS (Non Caustic Sanitiser) is perfect for cleaning the inside of refrigerated lorries, which often contain a lot of metalic surfaces.

• Treble X is ideal for cleaning the concrete islands around diesel pumps. Apply neat, brush well and rinse off.

• Autosmarts G101 can be used as an effective dewaxer when used on co-polymer wax.

• Use cold water to wash as much soiling and salt from your vehicles as possible before applying any chemical. This ensures that you get the best possible clean at the lowest possible cost. In hot weather make sure vehicles are thoroughly 'wetted' before applying chemical. Try to avoid cleaning vehicles in direct sunlight.

• For the best way to clean a truck chassis take the following steps:
1) Remove heavy grease and oil deposits with hot water at high pressure. Do not use chemical at this stage as it will not be any more affective.
2) Apply detergent hot at appropriate dilution rate. Leave to dwell for 5 - 10 mins.
3) Rinse off with hot water at high pressure. When applying chemical to your vehicle, always ensure you start from the bottom and work your way upwards. This avoids streaking on the paintwork. When applying the chemical, only wet the surface, do not try to remove all of the soiling.

OTHER
• If you are out in a van or lorry all day and have no access to water, carry some Smart Wipes with you so you can clean your hands whilst out on the road.

• Valeters often wash used Microfibre cloths so they can be re-used, this is a good idea as it is environmentally friendly and also cost effective. However if you do wash used Microfibre cloths DO NOT use fabric softeners or conditioners, using these will make the cloths less absorbent and will make polish smear when applying to a vehicle.

• Replace any leaking hoses / guns etc to prolong the life of your Hot Pressure Washer - a leaking hose can cause the pressure washer to 'cycle' (start up and develop pressure) putting unnecessary strains on the motor and thus accelerating wear.