Tips to detail your car

Why should spring cleaning be relegated to our homes? Our cars need a thorough scrubbing as well – and there’s nothing better than a sparkling set of wheels.

Air vents and cupholders make for some tricky cleaning, though, not to mention those spots that are tough to vacuum. Here are some tips from professional detailers to help you give your car a makeover without spending the big bucks:

To clean cup holders, put an old sock over the bottom of a travel cup, spray with window cleaner and twist, according to an article in Consumer Reports. Then get into the corners with a wooden barbecue skewer.

Wood skewers, cotton swabs, and old makeup brushes work great for those hard-to-reach spots, said CR, along with soft-bristled toothbrushes. For the exterior, dish soaps and laundry detergent are too harsh; go for a car cleaner instead.

Other tricks, according to dmv.org, include using a plastic knife covered with a thin cloth to get into crevices, canned air to blow out dust, and using masking tape or duct tape wrapped around your hand to grab pet hair off the upholstery.

Start with the wheels when doing the exterior, then change the water and rags for the rest. The DMV site recommends newsprint to give those windows and mirrors a streak-free shine at the end.

Finally, polish and THEN wax — these are two separate steps! You can invest in a polisher or simply go at it yourself. This removes things like small scratches or dents and buffs the exterior, while the wax gives it some protection and extra gloss.