The general condition of the car body significantly affects its estimated value. Servicing the body is simple, but you need to do it regularly. Failure to follow these procedures, especially after minor damage, can quickly result in extensive body wear and costly repairs. It is also important to maintain hidden body parts in good condition, such as the underbody and inner surfaces of the wheel arches.
The main body maintenance procedure is washing with plenty of water (from a hose), allowing you to remove all adhering dirt and solid particles from the car. It is important to wash them off so that the gravel does not scratch the paint. The wheel arches and underbody also need to be washed - the dirt accumulated on them absorbs moisture from the environment, which increases the risk of corrosion. It is easiest to clean the bottom and arches in rainy weather, when the mud build-up is soaked and soft. Sometimes in rainy weather, the bottom clears itself, and this is a good time for inspection.
Periodically (with the exception of cars whose bottom is covered with a protective wax layer) clean the bottom with steam. After that, make a full inspection of the body, noting places that require minor repairs. Steam cleaning is performed at many service stations and is necessary to remove oily build-up. If such cleaning is not available, special solvents are commercially available to remove such deposits. Apply the solvent with a brush, then simply wash off the dirt with a stream of water. This method should also not be applied to vehicles with a protective wax layer on the bottom, otherwise the layer will be removed. Such vehicles must undergo an annual inspection, preferably in autumn, during which the underbody must be washed and the protective layer, if damaged, restored. It is recommended to inject the same protective wax into door panels, sills and other body cavities as an additional protection against corrosion.
After washing painted surfaces, wipe them down with chamois leather to give them a shine. Coating surfaces with a thin layer of wax polish will give additional protection against chemical air pollutants. If the paint has faded or oxidized, use a special cleaner/polish combination to restore the shine. This requires some effort, but such difficulties arise only if regular washing has been neglected. Coloring "metallic" requires careful handling - use a special non-abrasive cleaner so as not to damage it. Make sure that the drain holes of the doors and the pipes of the drainage system are not clogged. Windshields and windows should be washed periodically with a glass cleaner. Never use wax or chrome body polish on glass.