http://www.desertsunmotors.com | Keeping your car clean is about more than just appearances. Dirt and grime can actually cause damage over time, shortening a car’s lifespan and lowering its resell value.

2. Putting off taking your car to the car wash? Not in the mood to vacuum under the seats
right now? By putting off cleaning your car, you could be damaging it in ways you don’t
even realize. In case you need a little extra motivation to get out the sponge and the hose,
here’s just some of the ways cleaning your car will help keep it running for years to come.

3. The dirt and grime covering your car’s exterior is more than just an eyesore – it’s a threat
to its long-term health. Dirt, bird droppings, and other particles that build up on the
outside of a car act like sandpaper on a car’s paint job, scraping it away bit by bit. The
longer a car goes without being washed, the more the paint gets damaged.

4. A car’s paint does more than just give it color and shine. Paint also protects the body of a
car, keeping it from being exposed to the elements. When paint fades, chips, or scrapes
off and leaves the car body underneath uncovered, the car body itself can start to
corrode and rust, damaging the structural integrity of the vehicle.

5. Dirt, bird droppings, and other grime
picked up on the road aren’t the only
things that can build up on your car’s
exterior, or that can damage the paint.
Other threats to your car’s paint job
include:
• Abrasive sponges or cleaners,
including household detergent
• Sponges that have been dropped
on the ground or contain dirt
particles from other sources
• Water and soap spots

6. When washing your car’s exterior:
• Pre-rinse the car before washing.
• Wash and rinse the car in sections
to prevent soap from drying.
• Do not use old shirts or household
rags as sponges; use actual
scrubbing products designed to pick
up dirt and absorb water/soap.
• Do not use household detergent as
soap; it will strip the finish off the
paint, making it more vulnerable.

7. Of course, cleaning the
outside of your car is
only half the job.
Cleaning the inside of
your car is just as
important, and should
be done just as often.
That means not just
vacuuming and
emptying out the trash,
but also shampooing
the seats and carpets.

8. Think just giving the inside of
your car a quick vacuuming now
and then is enough to keep it
clean? When a car’s interior isn’t
thoroughly cleaned on a regular
basis, dirt, germs, and other
contaminants build up in the
carpets and fabrics. This can lead
to staining and faded coloring,
and even cause nasty smells to
build up in the car’s interior.

9. When cleaning the inside of your car:
• Vacuum under rugs and seats.
• Shampoo and clean the seats
and carpets regularly.
• For stains, clean directly with a
sponge and carpet/fabric
cleaner.
Follow these steps, and your car will
last longer, look better, and maintain
a higher resell value!

10. Desert Sun Motors is proud to be a leading automotive dealership
serving customers in Alamogordo, Roswell and Espanola NM, and
beyond. For a full selection of new, preowned and used GM, Cadillac,
Buick, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Rams, Chevys, Toyotas, Jeeps, and more,
visit www.desertsunmotors.com.