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How Effectively to Wash Winter Off Your Used Car

Top 4 Tips From Our Buy Here, Pay Here Dealership in Kansas City

The best part of winter is that spring always follows! It’s finally time for you to trade in your winter coat for your favorite jacket, and experience clear skies in Kansas City. But wait - all the salt and dirt from winter roads has seriously made your car as dull as dishwater. 

Don’t schedule an expensive appointment at the car detailer just yet, because Auto Bank has these top 4 tips to clean your car like a pro. Own a clunker that you can’t get clean? Find out how our buy here, pay here dealership can help you get behind the wheel of one of our used cars in Kansas City.

1. Wash Your Car the Right Way

Dried dirt is especially gritty. So, when you scrub your car down first thing, you’ll ruin your paint finish. The pros always start their wash with a clear water rinse to remove as much dirt and debris as possible

You can’t just choose any soap, either. Harsh soaps, like dish detergent, draw important oils out of your car’s finish, which shortens the life of your paint. It’s best to use soap formulated for car detailing. 

Our last big tip for washing your car is to skip the cheap sponge. That’s because they hold on to dirt and are hard to rinse out. Instead, opt for a microfiber car wash mitt. They are gentle on your paint and grit is quickly rinsed out.

Fresh Facts: When your credit isn’t spotless, it's hard to get approved for car financing. At Auto Bank of Kansas City, less-than-perfect credit is one of our specialties. When you shop at one of our car lots near you, you’ll never be treated like just a number.

car being hand-washed with a microfibre mitt

2. Work Your Way Down While Cleaning Your Upholstery

Cleaning and detailing your upholstery is one of the best ways to keep it looking new. The easiest way to clean the interior of your car is by starting at the top and pushing dirt and grime down to the bottom. If you detail your interior after you’ve freshly vacuumed your carpets, you’ll end up having to do it again.

Dust and dirt can settle in every corner of your car. Especially if you don’t have the time to detail your car every month. You can quickly blast away dust in tight corners with an air duster. Just remember to dust places like center consoles, coat hooks, cup holders, and the dashboard.

After you're done dusting, simply use wipes meant to clean the interior features of your car, and finish your work off with a vacuum and your favorite air freshener.

Fresh Facts: We do the dirty work when it comes to car finance at Auto Bank. All you need to do is use our online pre-approval form, and we’ll take it from there. Our buy here, pay here car dealerships are completely in charge of who gets financing, so it’s likely you’ll get a positive response quickly!

3. Skip the Trends You See on Social Media

TikTok and Instagram sure are fun, but they aren’t great sources for how to take care of used cars. For instance, it’s a popular trend to attach sponges and microfiber towels on the end of power tools to give your car an impressive polish. But we’re here to tell you that’s a bad idea!

Power tools are very abrasive, no matter what you’ve stuck on the end of one. If you use a power tool on your paint, you might buff through the clear coat. This results in a dull spot showing exposed paint, which will only get much worse with time.

When you are ready to wax or polish your car. Use a microfiber towel and work from top to bottom, front to back, and panel-by-panel. Save your lower bumpers, doors, and rear bumper for last, because that’s where the most dirt lives on the body of your car.

Fresh Facts: Auto Bank has two car lots near you filled with squeaky clean used cars. We carry all the major brands of vehicles at affordable prices. Visit one of our buy here, pay here dealerships and test drive a used SUV that’s perfect for your family, a reliable truck for work, or a gas-saving compact car. Whatever type of vehicle you’re in the market for, Auto Bank has it!

Don’t Rely on Automatic Washes to Do a Detailer’s Job

Automatic car washes are a fast and effective way to clean your vehicle, but they can’t wash off all the dirt and grime your car has collected over winter. However, not all automatic car washes are created equal, and some bristles or damaged brushes might damage your vehicle’s paint.

Some car washes offer a “touchless” washing system, where a series of high-powered water jets and cleaning sprays wash your vehicle. Though this process is gentler on your car’s paint, it can damage your mirrors and antenna.

It’s better to wash your car yourself or take it to a professional detailer. That way your vehicle is getting thoroughly cleaned, and the paint is protected.

Fresh Facts: Making your monthly payment is never a chore when you buy used cars in Kansas City at Auto Bank. That’s because there are several ways you can send us your car payment. Either come to one of our used car lots near you, pay over the phone, send a money order to our address, or have your payment automatically deducted for your bank account each month.

Find Freshly Picked Used Cars in Kansas City at Auto Bank

Are you tired of your clunky car? Trade it in to Auto Bank! Our buy here, pay here dealership has used cars, trucks, and SUVs that are perfect for every budget. We even have an online trade-in estimator and auto loan estimator, so you can get a good idea of what your monthly payments might look like.

Get rid of your old ride and step into a nearly new vehicle that’s affordable, dependable, and incredible by calling our E. Truman Road location at (816) 241-7880 or our East Front Street car lot at (816) 231-9300. You can always send us a message online, too. We can’t wait to help you drive into spring in a used car from Auto Bank of Kansas City! 

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