With the festive season here, many of us are refurbishing and redecorating our homes and planning a complete makeover. But how about your four-wheeler? This might just be the right time to pamper your car. Here are a few things you can do – both DIY, and some that need professional assistance
Interior vacuuming
Debris, dirt and dust find their way inside your car, apart from pet hair and food remnants. Invest in a vacuum cleaner if you want to keep your car clean. There are many available online, depending on its utility and price. And you’ll also find some great deals during the festival season. A car vacuum cleaner can cost you between Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,000.
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Invest in an air purifier
Rising pollution levels, especially during the festive season, is all the more reason to buy one. It keeps a car free of dust, pet dander and allergens, other pollutants and odour. An air purifier costs between `2,300 to `5,000, depending on the brand.
Dashboard and rims polishing to make it shiny
Car interior detailing isn’t complete unless you get your dashboard smooth and polished and your tyres and rims shiny. Invariably, the dashboard is the first thing that catches the attention of anyone who gets inside a car. Car polish products help protect the dashboard from harsh UV rays and fading, remove dirt, dust and grime, and give it a glossy finish. Some of them also give a mild fragrance that lasts for a while. They are available online from `100 upwards. When you give your car for full detailing, cleaning of the rims and tyres comes as part of the package. You could do it at home too, with some good ol’ detergent followed by tyre polish.
Protection with ceramic coating and PPF
For that extra gloss and shine this festive season, go for ceramic coating. If the idea is to protect the paint and car’s body from debris on the road, paint protection film (PPF) is a best option. Explaining the benefits and price of both, Nandakumar AS, who runs a car body shop in Chennai, says, “Ceramic coating and paint protection films are expensive. PPFs are similar to your mobile scratch guards, which will give your car the highest protection against scratches. The cost of the film depends on the quality. Mostly, luxury car owners prefer PPF. Ceramic coating maintains the shine and colour of your car for several years.”
Up to Diwali, there will be a lot of cars coming in for body work. During this time, we get about 14-15 cars a day, as opposed to 5-6 cars a day at other times. Our interior deep cleaning rates start from `2,200. for the exterior, we do car restoration and polishing, which is an 18-step process. it starts from `7,000
— S Mahesh, manager at a car care with its branches in all major cities in India
Water wash and interior cleaning are basic services and many car owners opt for these as they want their vehicles cleaned before doing puja. Also, if there are dent and paint jobs, some go for that as well, especially since the festival season is here. There are festive-special offers in all car care spas
— Nandakumar AS, owner of a standalone car care spa
Fix scratches and dents
Never leave scratches and dents on your car unfixed. If ignored, over a period of time, it can lead to more chipping of paint and protective coating. This can in turn lead to rusting, which will spread easily and even affect the car’s performance apart from making it look bad. Also, absence of protective layers in damaged areas allows UV rays to make it worse. There are videos and blogs online on DIY tutorials to fix scratches and dents. But if there are big scratches, it’s best to seek professional help, as most car detailing centres or your authorised company workshop will have dent and scratch removal services.
Do some quick performance checks
Apart from cleaning the car’s interior and exterior, if you’re planning a driving holiday, it makes sense to check the car’s battery and also do a thorough test for engine oil, brake oil and air filters, apart from tyre health, as these might adversely affect car performance on a long drive.
Why you should consider a car makeover this festive season
- You’ll come across some attractive deals now
- Festival season is the time to get the repainting job done with your favourite colour
- Better performance and new look of your car will make you want to plan a road trip
- Have you got a classic car at home? Restore it by giving it a makeover. After all, festive season brings in nostalgia and retro vibes
- A well-maintained car will easily find a second buyer
Detailing, restoring and resotomods
- Auto detailing: It helps keep the vehicle in the best possible condition, look wise. It is said to not only make the car look cosmetically appealing, but also extend its life by mitigating the effects of dust, dirt, rust, hot sun and other factors.
- Restore a car: It means to get your old car refurbished to the standards of factory specifications using original parts
- Restomod car: That’s an old car, probably a classic car, modified with modern parts and technology. A modern mean machine with old looks
Items for DIY car cleaning
- Microfiber wash mitt: Soft and leaves no scratches on the surface; absorbs water easily
- Bucket: Ideally two buckets – one for shampoo solution and the second one for plain water to rinse the wash mitt each time after wiping the car
- Grit guard: Place it in the rinse bucket. After cleaning each the section of a car, run the wash mitt over it thoroughly to get as much dirt and debris off it
- Car shampoo: Some even come with a bit of wax in it, which gives a polished finish after a wash
- Spray nozzle: You need that high-pressure spray nozzle, especially to get dirt off from tyres, wheel rim and mud flaps
- Drying towel: Use a soft absorbent drying towel to wipe the car dry at the end
- Vacuum cleaner: Having one is essential to keep the interiors of your car spotless
