Classic Appreciation: Water Is the Best Solution to Car Cleaning for Fall Season

BIRMINGHAM, Mich., Oct. 21, 2004 -- With the Fall Season upon us, clean car enthusiasts may want to rid their vehicles of summer dust and dirt, but according to Greg Swett, car detailing expert and owner of Classic Appreciation here and in Rochester, the best cleaning agent on the market is.....water.

"There was a day when dressings that made the car interior or wheels shiny was in style, but today the best cleaning solvent is water," Swett said. "Often people use too much cleaning agent and then not get it out. That is sort of like washing your hair with shampoo and then not rinsing. The best way to clean your car's interior surfaces is water with a damp micro fiber towel."

According to Swett, cleaning agents tend to build up on the car's interior surface leaving a film.

"Our cleaning philosophy and strategy at Classic Appreciation is 'spray, scrub, blow.' That means spray on water with a mild cleaning agent such as diluted Simple Green, scrub it and rub it with a damp towel and blow it dry," Swett said.

Swett said the best treatment of a car's exterior is to polish it first, because polish will remove the scuffs, scratches and oxidation, while wax will merely coat over it. After polishing, a good waxing will protect the car's surface.

Swett, a 20-year veteran of car detailing, offered these following tips for preparing cars for Fall and Winter:

-- If you are going to use a cleaner, use it sparingly. Water is the best cleaning agent.

-- Use a toothbrush to clean out dust and dirt in hard to reach places such as door wells, panels, seat seams, interior nooks and crannies or wheels.

-- Remove brake dust with a stiff toothbrush and wheel cleaners such as Eagle Brand A-Z. Dust tends to bake on during the warmer summer months.

-- Be sure to completely dry interior carpeting, or it will mold and smell funny.

-- Use carpet remnants during the winter months under mats to save your car's carpet, and use mats that will absorb.

-- Polish your car's exterior before waxing.

-- Avoid shiny dressings; they only add to residue build up. Foaming Glass Cleaner is good for interior cleaning.

Additional information on Classic Appreciation is available at http://www.classicappreciation.com/ .