If you are planning to sell your car, having it cleaned
and professionally detailed first can go a long way to
enhance its value to potential buyers. Detailing restores
your car to its ultimate
beauty and maximizes
its resale value. A car
with a faded finish and
unkempt look will sell
for 10% - 20% less
than a cleaner, nicer–
looking vehicle.

When you wash your car at home, soap, road
grime, tar and oils often end up in storm sewers
that flow into local lakes and streams. Professional
car washes like Mr. Clean Car Wash recycle and
filter most of their water before returning it clean into
the environment. Before considering how clean you
may want to consider how green is your usual car
wash routine.

It may seem obvious that giving your car a regular wash
will keep it looking new. But too many people wait too long
and their car’s finish gets damaged. A simple wash at
least every few weeks is an easy way to keep up your
car’s appearance. How often you wash depends
on weather conditions and exposure to harsh
elements like sun, salt, trees and impolite
flying animals. Just keep your
car shining and you’ll
always run clean.

You can’t always park your car in a cool garage
but you can look for shade. UV sunrays not only
heat up your vehicle’s interior but also can
cause damage to your dashboard
and upholstery. Find a shady
spot whenever possible and if
not, utilize interior car shades
to block out harmful sun. Those
foldout shades may not look so
cool but the temperature inside
your car surely will be.

Has your car been assaulted by angry birds? Bird droppings and other obvious
contaminants have a high acidity that if left on your paint
for any length of time can eat into the clear coat. Even
the acidic chemicals in rainwater will remain
on the surface after the raindrops
have evaporated, leaving a mark
that can permanently stain the paint.
So don’t wait to wash your car.

One of the telltale signs of a neglected car is its
tires. When your tires look dry and faded, they
make your entire car look years older.
Moisturize your tires with products like
Tire Shine & Mr. Clean Wheel Guard™
that have been proven to keep
wheels cleaner, longer. Both
are available on select washes
at Mr. Clean Car Wash.

Oil is the lifeblood of your car, so keeping it clean
is crucial to your car’s lasting health. Having
not enough or the wrong kind of oil can also
lead to decreased gas mileage, which means
you pay even more for gas. See your
manual for manufacturer’s recommended
oil specifications and change intervals.

Excessive heat absorption. Individual paint
molecules. Oxidation. These all sound like fancy
scientific terms well beyond everyday car care. But the truth is that things
like sunlight and normal wear and tear can hurt your vehicle’s paint molecules.
All you need to know is that waxing protects your vehicle against paint fading.
You don’t have to be a scientist to understand and appreciate that.

Your car’s paint will last longer and look
better over time if you remember to keep
a coat of wax between its finish and the
elements. Between insects, trees, birds,
salt and harsh sunlight, nature can
take a real toll on your paint and
cause it to break down and even
crack and peel. Regular waxing at
least once every three months will
leave your car shiny and protected.

Make sure to check your air filter every
time you get an oil change. The air
filter stops airborne contaminants
from getting sucked into your
car’s engine. It stops debris such
as leaves, dust, and even small
army toys before they get inside
the engine and do damage.
Some professional oil changes,
including Mr. Clean Oil Change
Plus, will check air filters as part
of their standard checklist.

Despite the temperatures,
running your car’s air-
conditioning system a few
times this winter will help
keep it in good shape for
summer. Occasionally
running the compressor
will prevent its moving
parts from seizing. Also,
circulating the refrigerant
will help keep the seals
soft and pliant. Chill now
and you’ll keep your cool
this summer.

Windshield washer reservoirs are easy
to fill but fill them only with washer fluid.
Water just does not clean as well and,
even worse, it could freeze in cold
weather and damage your washer
system. As soon as the reservoir appears
empty, do not try to use the system or you
may damage the washer fluid pump.

When the temperatures rise so does your
tire pressure. And if you have worn treads
you will be much more likely to have a
blowout. Check your tire pressure and
check your tread regularly. Know that
extreme heat will only make the weak
tires worse, so invest in some new
rubber now before you’re
flat out of luck.

Your engine’s cooling system is vital to a car’s long life. The
radiator sends coolant through the engine block, absorbs the
heat and carries it away from the engine. Over time, especially
in extreme heat or extreme cold regions, the coolant can
break down and not work efficiently. That is why you
should schedule a coolant change and
radiator flush at the start of
each season.

Your car works harder when it’s carrying more than just you and your family to the movies.
If you’ve ever packed your car for vacation with a cargo trailer, you might have noticed
your vehicle moved slower and your gas mileage decreased. That’s because heavy cars
use more energy and create excess heat under the hood. Oil and transmission fluid
coolers are smart add-ons that will help make your car prepared for the long haul!

Regular vacuuming and upholstery
cleaning will keep your car looking fresh
well beyond its years. Done properly,
vacuuming will rejuvenate your
upholstery fibers and lift carpet
pile to give it new life even if
it is heavily used. After all,
your car’s interior is your
living space, at least for
short periods of time.

Don’t be caught in the rain with an old set of wiper blades. Most experts say
wiper blades should be replaced every six to twelve months for optimum
performance and driving visibility. The rubber material deteriorates over
time. Not only is it a potentially unsafe situation, but also the streaking
and chatter sure are a nuisance.

Old motor oil just can’t do the job it’s intended
to do. Over time, oil absorbs water, dust
and combustion by-products and the
result is engine-damaging sludge.
Your car needs clean, fluid
lubrication to keep it running
smooth and most of the time,
all you need to do is change
your motor oil. For the life of
your car, make a change.

Still driving that classic 1963 Alfa Romeo? What about
a 1970 Dodge Challenger? If so, pay extra attention
here. The oil levels in older engines have a tendency
to drop between oil changes. As engines wear, oil
can make its escape. Your engine may be burning
oil because of a worn piston ring or even a bad
gasket. Get in the habit of checking your oil level
from time to time to avoid an expensive repair.

Keeping a small kitchen-sized trash
bag in your car is great for freeing
your car of cups, trash or even
muddy soccer cleats. If you have
children, consider putting your
child who’s in charge of the trash
bag at home in charge of the trash
bag in the car. It might be a great
way to extend the time in-between
interior car washes.

Give your gas cap a little twist every time you
fill up. Gasoline will evaporate from your gas
tank if it can escape so make sure your gas
cap is on right and tight. Loose, damaged
or missing caps cause 147 million
gallons of gas to evaporate
each year, according to
the Car Care Council.
So tighten up
and save.

Carrying extra keys and trinkets on your key chain may
be convenient but it could cause damage to your car.
The swinging motion and extra weight hanging
from your key in the ignition could wear out the
tumblers and lead to ignition switch failure. Keep
your ignition key separate or on a lightweight
key chain and add years of life to your ignition
switch. If your key starts to stick when you
turn it, it may be a warning sign of
future ignition switch failure.

Statistics show that driving in the
center lane on freeways makes
you less likely to be involved in a
rear-end crash. The slow lanes are
where more decisions are made
and more “action” takes place.
Every time you change lanes you
add risk so when traffic allows,
stay in the center lane and resist
your urge to merge.

When you have a new battery, you don’t have to worry
much about your car starting. But when a battery
is 2-3 years old, you never know when it
may decide to quit. Know the age of
your car’s battery. After three years it
should be tested and replaced if
necessary. At that age, even a
strong battery will lose output when
the outside temperature drops–and
that’s not a good time to be stuck.