Car wash
Environmental protection laws prohibit car washing in non-designated locations.
Many gas stations provide the opportunity to wash the car yourself, by hand.
Wash the contaminated car as soon as possible. Before washing, wet surfaces with adhering dead insects, and then rinse them off.
Use plenty of water for washing. Wash the car with a soft sponge or a soft brush attached to the end of the washing hose. Avoid sharp corners when supplying water from a hose to the surface of the body. Water must be supplied «rain» to soften impurities.
Rinse softened dirt with plenty of water from top to bottom. Squeeze out the sponge frequently.
Use a suede cloth to wipe dry. Use only high-quality detergent with a water-repellent effect. Rinse off detergent residues with plenty of clean water.
A preservative can be added to the car wash water to protect the paintwork. With regular use of detergent, the surface of the body should be rubbed with a preservative more often.
Never wash or dry your vehicle in the sun. In this case, water spots are inevitably formed.
Traces of salt used on roads in winter are especially dangerous For all folds and folds, flanges and joints of doors and hoods. Therefore, such places must be thoroughly cleaned with a sponge at each car wash, including even after an automatic car wash, and then rinsed with water and wiped dry with a dry chamois cloth.
Attention! After washing the vehicle, the damp surface of the brake pads reduces the braking effect. Therefore, dry the brake discs with light braking on the go.
Lacquer care
Conservation
Cleanly washed and wiped dry lacquer should be coated with a preservative at such intervals and as often as to ensure that the surface is protected from the weather by a water-repellent and pore-closing wax composition.
Any fuel, oil, grease or brake fluid that has come into contact with the paint must be removed immediately, otherwise the paint will discolour.
Preservation of the paintwork surface should be carried out more often if, when washing the car, it is clearly seen that water flows from the paintwork not in the form of droplets, but in a continuous mass. Regular use of a preservative helps to preserve the lacquer coating.
Another possibility to preserve the lacquer coating is the use of wax compositions used in car washing. However, they only provide good protection when used at every car wash, and then only if the period between two washes does not exceed 2-3 weeks. Use lacquer preservatives containing natural or synthetic wax.
After using detergent (foam car wash) it is especially recommended to treat the surface of the body with a preservative (read the instructions for use of the preservative beforehand).
Polishing
Polishing is only necessary when the lacquer coating has lost its original appearance due to insufficient care or exposure to dust, industrial emissions, sun and rain and no longer becomes shiny even with the use of preservatives. Do not use polishing agents with high abrasiveness or polishing agents with increased chemical aggressiveness for this, even if the first attempt at such polishing was successful.
Before each polishing, the vehicle must be washed clean and thoroughly dried. In the future, you must follow the manufacturer's instructions for using the polishing agent.
Do not treat a large area at once to avoid premature drying of the polish. Most polishes require the application of a preservative after use. Do not polish in direct sunlight! Matt lacquered parts must not be treated with polishes or preservatives.
Removal of tar/tar stains
Resin-containing substances in a short time eat into the paintwork and cannot be completely removed. Fresh stains can be removed with a cloth soaked in washing gasoline. If necessary, petrol, kerosene or turpentine oil can also be used. A lacquer preservative also works very well against such stains. When using it, you can refuse the subsequent washing.
Insect removal
Insects contain aggressive substances that damage the lacquer coating. Therefore, the affected areas must be washed immediately with warm soapy water or a detergent solution, because insects that have hardened on the surface are difficult to remove by ordinary rainfall. There are also special means for removing insects.
Removal of traces of splashes with the remains of various building materials
Remove drip marks on various parts of the car with a warm, neutral detergent solution. Don't rub too hard to avoid damaging the lacquer. Then rinse with clean water.
Care of plastic parts
Clean plastic parts, leatherette seats, headlining, black matt parts only with water and shampoo. Do not soak the upholstery of the ceiling through. Plastic parts can be cleaned with a suitable plastic cleaner. Do not use solvents such as nitro thinner, cold cleaners, or benzine.
Glass cleaning
Wipe the glass outside and inside with a clean soft cloth. In case of severe pollution, alcohol or ammonia and warm water or a special glass cleaner will help. Tilt the wiper arms forward when cleaning the windshield.
When cleaning the windshield, also clean the wiper blades.
Attention! When using products containing silicone, brushes, sponges, rags and towels used to clean the lacquer coating should not be used to clean glass. When spraying paints containing silicone, the windows must be covered with thick paper or other material.
Caring for rubber seals
Seal and sliding surfaces of rubber gaskets are occasionally dusted with talcum powder or sprayed with a silicone compound. Gem most will be able to avoid squeaking when closing the doors. Rubbing said surfaces with liquid soap also reduces noise.
Tire cleaning
Light alloy rims should be brushed and treated with a suitable product, especially in winter, but do not use aggressive, acidic, highly alkaline, abrasive cleaners or a washing machine with a water temperature above +60°C.
Clean seat belts only with a mild soapy solution without removing them. Do not use chemical cleaners as they will destroy the fabric. Wind up automatic belts only after they are completely dry. Do not dry the seat belts at temperatures above +80°C or in the sun.
Underbody protection and cavity preservation
The bottom of the car, including the wheel arches, are covered with a protective PVC layer. Particularly endangered areas of the front end in the vicinity of the wheel space are protected by a plastic coating against stone impacts. In addition, parts of the body that are at risk of corrosion are made of galvanized sheets.
Before the onset of the cold season and after each washing of the bottom, check the condition of the protective layer of the bottom and, if necessary, eliminate its defects.
Dust, clay and sand can accumulate in some areas of the bottom. Remove accumulated dirt, which in winter may also contain salt.
Washing and preservation of the engine
To prevent corrosion on car front parts (e.g. on side members, cross beams), as well as the power unit, the engine compartment, including all parts and assemblies located in the engine compartment, must be covered with a high-quality preservative. This should be done first after washing the car.
Attention! Before washing the engine under cold water from a washing unit or a steam generator, cover the generator, fuse box, brake fluid reservoir with plastic bags.
Seat upholstery care and cleaning
Fabric cases
Clean the covers with a vacuum cleaner or a fairly stiff brush. If heavily soiled, they can be cleaned with foam.
Grease and oil stains can be removed with washing gasoline or stain remover. At the same time, do not directly moisten the place of contamination with the stain remover, because in this case stains will necessarily appear on the fabric around the place that was wetted with the stain remover. Treat the stain in a circle, moving from outside to inside. Other contaminants are usually removed with warm soapy water.
Leather cases
When exposed to strong sunlight and for long periods of parking, remove the covers so that they do not fade.
Use a lightly dampened knit or woolen cloth to clean the leather surfaces without soaking the leather or seams through. Finally, wipe damp skin with a dry, clean cloth.
Heavily soiled leather surfaces can be treated with mild detergent solutions without bleach (2 tablespoons per 1 liter of water). Carefully remove grease and oil stains with washing gasoline without wiping them.
Treat lacquered leather seats with a commercially available leather cleaner after cleaning. Such funds can be purchased at a specialized store or at an auto shop. Shake well before use and apply a thin layer with a soft cloth.
After drying, wipe the surface with a clean soft cloth. Perform this treatment once every 6 months if the external influence is normal.