We all try to replicate that show room shine. Just walk into your nearest car sales yard and have a look at their cars, shiny paint, glistening chrome, sparkling glass and stand out tyres. When we clean our cars at home we try and get our vehicles looking the same way. If you are cleaning your car incorrectly it can make the paint prematurely dull or damaged. Making sure you use good quality products and techniques is a start. The paint on your car is not necessarily the same as your neighbours car. Some car paints have clear coats, some don’t. Making sure you understand about your cars paint is critical for keeping it looking like new. Older cars have thicker paint than newer cars; the thickness of the paint on your car is more than likely just thinner than a piece of writing paper.

Always ask for advice if you need it. Keeping your car in its best condition will not only make you feel better when driving it, but when you come to trade it in or sell it, you will still get a high resale value. With our current economic conditions car valet companies are busier than ever because people upgrading or changing their cars want that extra thousand dollars for their car. It is amazing the difference in price you can get when you have looked after your car. Always remember to try and clean your car in the shade, especially in the summer time. If you wash your car with a bucket and hose, the soap suds can dry into paint if cleaned out in the sun. Try and wash either in the shade, first thing in the morning, in the evening or on a cloudy day.

In New Zealand at present, especially in the North Island, the risk of drought plays a big part with water consumption. Conserving water is high on our council’s lists of things to do. If you are in an area that is suffering from drought conditions or are on tank water, then using a waterless wash could be your answer to your problems. There are mobile valet companies that use the waterless cleaning chemicals, but you can also buy them off the shelf. If you have never used this cleaning method before always read the instructions or talk to someone who has and can point you in the right direction. Using a valet service certainly has its benefits, they have all the correct chemicals and materials for cleaning your car, and they are also professionally trained. Good luck and happy car cleaning!