Taking care of cars in the summer – cleaning the windows, rims, and the interior

Taking care of cars in the summer – cleaning the windows, rims, and the interior

The long-awaited summer is finally here and now is the best time for new fun adventures and for discovering the world. A lot more mileage is often clocked up in the summer, as cars are used for visiting summer cottages and taking trips. For your car rides to be pleasant and smooth, it is important to get your car ready for the summer and keep it in a good condition, as needed. We have put together a starter package for car maintenance in the summer season which includes detergents and tools for cleaning the windows, rims, and the interior.

Maintenance of the interior

A lot of dirt is accumulated in the car over time – sand and dust, stains on the seats, etc. For your long journeys in the car to be pleasant, you should regularly clean the interior of your car.

Use the Kiehl plastic+leather cleans and care for cleaning plastic and leather elements. This product removes dirt efficiently, protects the surfaces from new stains and make them water-resistant and antistatic. It also adds a beautiful shine to the surfaces without leaving behind a greasy layer. Kiehl plastic+leather cleans and care can be used indoors as well as outdoors and is suitable for treated natural leather as well as imitation leather. Spray the product on a clean and dry cleaning cloth and wipe and polish the surfaces.

If you notice unexpected stains on your textile car seats, use the Kiehl Carp-Deta stain remover. Carp-Deta removes various different stains, such as coffee or food stains quickly and efficiently. Spray the product on a cleaning cloth and rub the stain moving from outside towards the centre. Then tab with an absorbent piece of paper or a towel. If necessary, spray the product directly on the stain and let it work for a few minutes. If you are unable to completely remove the stain with the first attempt, you may repeat the process until the stain is gone. Make sure you rinse the surface with clean water after cleaning to remove any residues of the detergent. In the case of larger stains, you may also use a textile washer or a steam washer.

Cleaning the windows

Different types of dirt is constantly accumulated on the windows of your car – dust from the road, dead insects, and pollen, which may considerably restrict the view of the driver on a bright, sunny day. In order to ensure your own safety and the safety of other road users, it is important to regularly clean the windows of your car. Special glass cleaners for cars are efficient for removing even the most stubborn dirt, such as mud and dead insects.

Tips for efficient cleaning the windows:

• Dilute a concentrated product to save money and protect the environment – Kiehl Scheibenklar is a great alternative for regular glass cleaners, as it is:

• Environment-friendly – less packaging and disposable plastic.
• Convenient – the tiny 30 ml bottle can be conveniently kept in the glove compartment for unexpected situations.
• Cost-efficient – lower cost, as you will only pay for the product, not for water. 30 ml of the concentrate can be used to make as much as 3 l of glass cleaning liquid.
• Always start washing on the outside – as the windows are usually much dirtier on the outside, you will this way be able to check when cleaning the windows on the inside whether everything is perfectly clean.
• Use a special microfibre glass-cleaning cloth for cleaning the windows on the insider, as this will always ensure a streak-free result, if used properly. For cleaning the windows on the inside, just use clean water. Keep a small spraying bottle with water in the car for this purpose. The bottle fits ideally in the car door pocket. For further information on how to moisten a microfibre glass-cleaning cloth to achieve streak-free results, read more HERE.

Cleaning the rims

A lot of stubborn dirt is accumulated on the rims over time, such as tar stains, dust from the road and brake pads, sand and grit, which may get stuck on the rims and damage them. In order to keep the rims beautifully shiny and to prevent the accumulation of rust, it is important to clean them regularly. The following products will help you clean the rims:

• Kiehl RuginOff rust remover which is ideal for cleaning rims thanks to its acid-free composition. The product also protects the surface cleaned.
• Vikan rim brush – a medium hard detergent-resistant rim brush which is ideal for cleaning rims.

Removing dead insects and bird droppings

Finding bird droppings or residues of dead insects from your lovely freshly washed vehicle may be quite an unpleasant surprise. Unfortunately, this happens to every driver several times over the summer. As bird droppings are acidic, you should remove them as soon as possible to prevent any damage to the surface. This does not mean, however, that you should immediately make your way to the car wash for any small stain. Kiehl Insect Remover can help you here, as it will efficiently remove any residues of dead insects and bird droppings. Spray the product on the surface and wait approximately one minute. Then wipe the dirt with a clean sponge or cloth and rinse the surface with clean water, ideally with pressurised water.

Make sure that the surfaces cleaned are not hot and do not allow the cleaning products to dry on the surfaces!

Drying the car

If you visit a self-service car wash where you can wash your car yourself or if you clean the car of dirt in the garden of your home or holiday home, use Vikan Wipe-n-Shine to dry the car. The convex dryer is equipped with a wide rubber edge which is good for removing residual water from the car. If you fail to remove the water, it will leave the surfaces dull and eventually result in calciferous deposits.   

A good idea! Keep a roll of kitchen paper and a microfibre cloth in the car in the summer!

When taking up car journeys in the summer, you may find yourself in unexpected situations which require quick intervention, such as food or beverage stains on the seats. This is why it is always a good idea to keep a microfibre cloth and some kitchen paper in the car for wiping up any dirt.