Caring for the car properly - what you need to consider!

Thomas Wachsmuth March 3, 2023 Tips, products, information & Co.

Reading time 10 Min.

In order to be able to enjoy your new car for a long time, it needs good care. Nevertheless, car care is often underestimated, even though the car is an important asset for many Germans. After all, if you have finally fulfilled your dream of owning a new car, you want to take care of it accordingly so that it looks like new for a long time and drives smoothly. Car care includes several components to consider.

Regular washing is important!

A regular car wash is essential, as sensitive parts and sheet metal edges can quickly rust. Scratches and defective paintwork are also at risk if the dirt is not removed for too long. A car wash is particularly important on salty roads in winter, when there is bird droppings or tree sap on the paint and when the car is often parked outside or used for driving on unpaved roads. You have the choice between one car wash in the car wash, in a Wash box in a washing area provided for this purpose or in nursing at home. on their own. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Wash the car in the car wash

Washing your car in the car wash is convenient and quick if you don't have much time, don't have a problem spending money on it or don't feel like doing manual work. The old belief that the brushes of some systems scratch the paint is no longer tenable in this form. The brushes are usually much gentler than they used to be and modern car paints are also resistant enough to survive the car wash unscathed. However, depending on the system, the smallest granules or coarse dirt from the previous vehicle can still be stuck in the brushes and cause fine scratches.

Advantages and disadvantages of car washes

Car washes have advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, car washing is more relaxed than hand washing. On the other hand, it is more expensive and consumes a lot of water.
Although most car washes are very thorough, there is also a risk of fine scratches on the paintwork. To avoid this, it is important that a prewash carried out by an employee before driving into the car wash. In this way, coarse dirt is washed off and does not even get close to the brushes.
Another advantage of car washes is the time saved, as long as not everyone storms the car wash at the same time in the summer.

Wash the car in the wash box

If you want to save money and invest a little time, a car wash in a self-service car wash box is a good idea. Here you can clean and care for the car individually. However, you need small change to be able to use the wash box. Detergents and cleaning utensils are often available, but depending on the provider, you can also bring your own cleaning supplies. However, it is important to ensure that the cleaning products are readily biodegradable and not harmful to aquatic organisms.

Before the actual cleaning, a pre-wash is also necessary here, which you can carry out yourself with the high-pressure cleaner provided. It is advisable not to waste too much time washing, since the washing box is of course subject to a charge and "time is running" as soon as the coin (the washing token) has been inserted. After cleaning, the paint should be dried with a soft, clean cloth to avoid water stains. A car wash in the wash box is a bit more complex than in the car wash, but usually cheaper and is particularly useful if you have special ideas about cleaning the car. Disadvantages: drying is not possible!

Wash the car yourself

If you wash your car yourself in front of your own front door, you can save a lot of money. However, there are also some disadvantages and rules that must be observed. Although there are no uniform regulations, care should be taken to ensure that washing on public land does not contaminate the groundwater. On private property it is therefore only permitted with an oil separator. It is better to get information from the municipality beforehand, as this is handled differently depending on the region.

The fines can several thousand euros be.
It is generally not allowed to wash on unpaved ground, as the dirty water can seep unhindered into the ground.

Although it is cheaper to wash your car yourself, it takes time and willingness to do so. You also need your own washing area and your own detergents and utensils. The cleaning can also be less thorough and it is everyone's own responsibility. So you should bring a little idea with you!

Car polish

When the car is freshly washed, one can think about whether it needs a paint polish. However, this should not after every wash be carried out, as the protective clear coat is removed a little with every polish. However, an annual or semi-annual polish makes sense, especially if the paintwork becomes dull or the smallest scratches are visible. Similar to the car wash, the question arises as to whether you should polish the car yourself or have it professionally polished.

Polish the car yourself

If you are planning your car to polish yourself, you should plan enough time. It is important that the vehicle is freshly washed beforehand and free of any visible dirt residue. Also, you should park the vehicle in a shady place to get a better polishing result and avoid sweat. Choosing the right polish is crucial as different products contain different abrasives that can be fine or coarse. You should therefore obtain information from specialist dealers in order to find the right product for your vehicle paintwork. If you own a new vehicle, you should first ask the manufacturer (car dealership) whether the paint is already fully cured or whether you should wait with the polish.

PS: it is usually not necessary to polish a new car. At most one can Lacquer sealing and a regular one Grow be necessary.

Whether you work with a sponge or a polishing machine depends on your own skills and preferences. If you are polishing for the first time, it is advisable to practice with a sponge to feel the necessary pressure. If you decide to use a polishing machine, you should make sure that you use a special polish to avoid damage to the paintwork. Choosing the right polishing machine is of course also important and you should seek advice from a specialist dealer. Polishing the car yourself has the advantage that it is less expensive than professional polishing and you can purchase all the supplies you need yourself. However, it takes practice, patience and experience to properly polish the car. If you use the wrong polish or polish incorrectly, you can permanently damage the paintwork.

Have the car polished professionally

There are various reasons why one should sign up for one professional car polish should decide. On the one hand, an expert can specifically address the individual needs of the car and thus select the optimal cleaning and polishing process, on the other hand, professional car care professionals have the necessary expertise to remove even serious scratches or damage. You also save a lot of time and work if you leave the polishing to the professionals because, among other things, they know exactly how to avoid holograms or similar problems.

However, a professional car polish is also associated with significantly higher costs. Depending on the workshop and the scope of the work, the prices can vary greatly. Also, the car has to be brought to the workshop for some time, which can be difficult for some vehicle owners to implement. However, if you are willing to invest the money and time, you will usually be rewarded with a perfect result.

Clean the interior of the car

Maintaining the perfect look of your car is not enough just to take care of the outside. The inner space should also be cleaned regularly, especially in winter when dirt and dust accumulate in the vehicle. Regular cleaning saves time and helps prevent plastic surfaces from fading.

The following 5 steps are recommended for cleaning the interior:

It is best to shake off the coarse dirt from the floor mats outside. Many car washes offer special grids to beat out the mats.
Dispose of rubbish lying around in the vehicle.
Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and dirt. Some car washes provide free vacuum cleaners, others require change.
Clean cloth seats with upholstery foam and leather seats with special leather cleaning.
Use a microfiber cloth to clean plastic surfaces with a special interior spray.
If you have stubborn stains on the upholstery, it's a good idea to consider professional interior cleaning and have the cleaning done by a professional.

The inspection of the car!

The maintenance intervals vary depending on the manufacturer. It is best to get this information from the service booklet/on-board computer or owner's manual. It is essential that the prescribed intervals are observed in order to receive any warranty services and the functionality of the vehicle. If the Inspection If repairs are not carried out properly during the guarantee period, the manufacturer generally does not pay for the damage.

Modern vehicles show you a while before the due date that a service appointment must be made soon. So you can no longer deny that you didn't know anything about it. You are free to choose the "specialist workshop" that you prefer. However, it is important that all work specified by the manufacturer is carried out and noted in the service booklet. The price differences between authorized workshops and independent workshops are sometimes enormous. It is important to know: The workshop cannot simply repair every defect it finds without consulting you.

Small defects such as a broken headlight are usually replaced immediately. But it is best to discuss with the responsible mechanic when you hand in your car which work may be carried out and for which your consent is required. Pretty much any garage will give you one upfront if you specify the model and the required inspection Cost estimate so that you have a rough idea of what costs you will incur. In the end, however, it should be more than 20 percent exceeded not .

The depreciation of the car!

It is important to know that new cars have a particularly high price in the first four years depreciation suffer. However, by taking proper care of the vehicle, you can help ensure that the residual value remains as high as possible. To estimate the depreciation of the vehicle, the following factors should be considered:

The regular location of the car (whether in a parking lot or in a garage).
Is it a smoking vehicle?
Is there accidental damage?
How bad are the signs of use?
How old the vehicle is.

Whether you drive the car for a long time or quickly again merchandise everyone has an interest in keeping the loss in value as low as possible. The location of the car has a major impact on depreciation. If it stands unprotected in front of the front door for years, damage can occur due to weather influences. In winter, the salt thrown onto the bodywork by other vehicles can damage the paintwork, for example. Therefore, it makes sense to wash the car regularly in winter. In summer, too much sunlight can fade the paint. If the car is outside, a marten Causing damage and bird droppings or tree sap can be difficult to remove and permanently damage the paintwork.

It is therefore advisable to use a garage space or at least a carport. And if there are food or drink stains on the upholstery, or if pet hair is flying around the car due to the transport, this can also lead to deductions in the residual value. Smoking vehicles are particularly affected because, in the worst case, the smell can persist for years. A professional can help here ozone treatment. At best, you even smoke not only in the vehicle!

Can you drive a new car straight into the car wash?

The new car is usually already washed and delivered in perfect condition, but it is not a problem to visit the car wash immediately because the paint is already hardened and not special protection thats it!

How to protect the paint of the car?

To protect the new car paint, animal excrement such as bird droppings should be removed as soon as possible to avoid long-term damage to the paint. A regular car wash and a layer of wax after washing are recommended. Polishing should be considered if the gloss begins to fade, but this should not be done too frequently as polish contains small abrasive particles that can damage the paint finish over time. Better to use a paint sealer!

Should you polish a new car directly?

Polishing should only be carried out if there are scratches or dull areas in the paintwork. Since a new car should not have any scratches, this is not necessary in this case. The wax coating should ideally be applied twice a year, in autumn to protect the paint from road salt and in spring to renew the coat. But several passes a year certainly do no harm!

Can you use vinegar to remove dirt?

Vinegar water does not damage the car paint and can be used to remove stubborn dirt. However, it is important to rinse thoroughly with water afterwards and ideally to wax the vehicle.

Should you go to the car wash often?

If the car is not excessively dirty, it is sufficient to take it to the car wash every two months, as modern paints are very resistant to dirt. In between, cleaning can be tackled in a self-service wash box.

Of course, that wasn't the end of it!

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