Before autumn: How to clean your vehicle properly
Why does your car need thorough care after the summer?
Heat, dust, pollen, dead insects: Summer is taking its toll on the car. Seats and plastic materials of dashboard cover or trim may fade. Paint, rims or windows also get their "grease off": stones, dust and heat damage the vehicle. And then there is also autumn and winter with fog and lots of moisture. It is important to take precautions.
The right preparation
If you want to clean your car thoroughly, we have some basic recommendations for you:
- Weather: Choose a cool day with plenty of shade. This is because the paintwork, especially that of the bonnet, and the rims must be cold so that the cleaner does not dry out and leave fewer streaks.
- Gloves: Be sure to wear rubber or latex gloves to protect your hands. Because even care products and cleaning substances are often "corrosive" in the truest sense of the word.
- Cloths and brushes: It is best to use microfiber cloths for cleaning: Unlike sponges, their cell structure is open, which means that they absorb dirt more easily and do not return it to the surface. This then protects the paintwork.
Step 1: Care for rims and tires
Start the exterior care with the rims and tires so that they can soak for a while. Since dust and dirt are always stirred up during exterior cleaning, it is best to remove the wheels and place them in warm water. Alternatively, use water to remove coarse dirt. Only then spray it with a rim cleaner and let it take effect. Then proceed to step 2 and only then proceed to the rims and tires.
Then clean the rims thoroughly with a soft round brush, which also gets into the gaps, and clean the tyres with water and tyre caregiver and the brakes with a brake cleaner.
Step 2: Wash the body
For exterior cleaning, you need two ten-litre buckets – one with water and conventional washing-up liquid and one with clear water. For body care, proceed as follows:

- Foam the body by hand or with a foam gun from top to bottom so that the dirt softens.
- Foam hard-to-reach areas – such as rubber folds on doors and windows, lower edges of doors, trim strips or even the spaces between the radiator grille – separately with fresh brushes.
- Then wash the car from top to bottom as well. Apply a little pressure to the cloth so that it can absorb the dirt.
- Finally, pre-clean the door sills and hood edges.
- Hose down the entire car with the water hose — if possible, without splashing on the road, as this can stir up dust again.
- Wipe the body dry with a cloth if you don't want water stains to form.

Step 3: Clean the interior
Wenn das Auto von außen wieder strahlt, kümmern Sie sich um den Innenraum. Räumen Sie diesen dafür vollständig leer: Nicht nur Müll, sondern auch Bodenmatten, Sitzbezüge und Decken müssen raus. Dann saugen Sie den gesamten Innenraum inklusive Fugen, Polster und Ablageflächen sowie Kofferraum und Abdeckungen gründlich ab. Vergessen Sie dabei nicht die Fußmatten, die Sie zuvor an die Seite gelegt haben.

Then wipe all plastic surfaces — i.e. cockpit, panels, controls and storage trays — with a cloth and clear, warm water and a gentle detergent and clean the windows from the inside with glass cleaner and paper towels. If necessary, treat the carpets in the footwells with a carpet cleaner and, if oil, grease or chocolate stains, also use a special stain remover.
Step 4: Clean the upholstery
At the end of the car care, clean the upholstery with a special foam-based upholstery cleaner. Simply spray it on and then rub it lightly with a sponge or soft cloth. She then vacuums off dirt and foam with the vacuum cleaner.
In addition, special recommendations apply to leather seats and in case of heavy soiling:
- There are home remedies for stubborn dirt such as sticky candies or chewing gum.
- For leftover sweets, the use of an ice spray is recommended. After application and a short exposure time, you need to carefully scrape off the dirt.
- Basically, you should rather dab dirt off upholstery. This is especially true for leather.
- Leather seats should first be wiped with a damp cloth and allowed to dry completely. Afterwards, we recommend the use of special leather care products, as they protect the material.
- For very light-coloured leather, first test care products on a small, invisible area. This way you can be sure that the leather color does not change negatively.