Aftercare
A few simple habits between valets, so the paint stays glossy and the inside stays fresh.
Or leave it to us, every 4 weeks.
The short version
Most of the marks on a car come from how it is washed, not how it is driven. Dirt dragged across the paint leaves fine scratches that catch the light, and harsh products strip off the protection we put on.
Wash gently, use the right stuff, deal with bird mess quickly and rinse off winter salt, and the car will look right for a lot longer.
Between valets
Tips from SimplyShine, mobile car valeting in Swindon.
Rinse the car first to knock off loose dirt. Use two buckets, one with car shampoo and one with clean water to rinse the mitt, so the grit goes in the bucket and not back on the paint.
Work from the roof down in straight lines, and do the wheels last with a separate mitt or brush. Dry with a clean, soft drying towel, laid on and drawn off, rather than rubbing.
A jet wash is fine for a rinse between valets. Keep the lance a good 30cm from the paint, go easy round badges, trim and rubber seals, and never use the foaming brush: it holds grit from every car before yours.
Get them off soon, especially in summer. They can etch into the clear coat if they sit on hot paint. Soak them with a damp microfibre cloth for a minute so they soften, then lift them off. Do not scrub them dry.
Road salt eats at metal, so rinse the arches and underneath after the roads have been gritted. Keep the screenwash topped up with one that will not freeze, and never pour hot water on a frozen screen, as it can crack the glass. A de-icer and a scraper do the job.
Shake the mats out every week or two, and keep a clean microfibre cloth in the glovebox for dust and spills. Wipe spills on leather straight away with a damp cloth.
Avoid shiny dashboard sprays on the steering wheel and pedals, as they make them slippery, and household wipes on leather, as they can dry it out.
The Monthly Clean keeps the car at the standard of a full valet, every 4 weeks, on your drive, from £55 a visit. No contract, and you can skip a month or stop any time.
Quick answers
Every two to four weeks keeps most cars right. More often in winter, when salt is on the roads, and straight away if a bird or tree has had a go at it.
Yes, carefully. Keep the lance a good 30cm from the paint, go easy round badges, trim and seals, and never use the foaming brush: it holds grit from every car before yours.
No. It is made to strip grease, so it strips the wax or protection off your paint too. Use a proper car shampoo, they are cheap and last ages.
Ready when you are
Pick your car and the clean, and the price is on screen. Then we text you to agree a day.
