Tips for Cleaning and Detailing Your Volkswagen to Keep It Looking New

Keeping your vehicle clean goes beyond wiping your windshield every day. You need to create a routine to keep the exterior and interior clean, whether you do the cleaning yourself or bring it to a professional. Our team at VW of Marion in Marion, Illinois, wrote this comprehensive guide about how to clean your vehicle and added Volkswagen detailing tips to help you keep your investment in top condition.

A clean vehicle is safer and more pleasant to drive. When you clean and detail the exterior of your VW, you remove dirt, grime, and salt that can lead to destructive corrosion of the body and undercarriage, and regular cleaning will help prevent corrosion in the future. Overall, having your Volkswagen cleaned and detailed will help it hold its value and enhance your and your passenger’s driving pleasure. Learn more about how to maintain a Volkswagen’s appearance, inside and out.

Basic Cleaning Tips

Keeping your VW clean is relatively simple when you use basic cleaning tips.

Washing Your Volkswagen

Follow these steps for washing the exterior of your Volkswagen:

• Park the vehicle in a shady spot.
• Gather soft towels together.
• Use specific car washing soap.
• Use two buckets, one for the soapy water and one for rinsing the towel between wipes.
• Rinse the VW with water first to remove most of the loose dirt and dust.
• Dip a soft towel in the soapy bucket, start at the roof of the VW, and wipe the surface.
• Rinse the towel in clean water, then dip again in the soapy bucket.
• Continue to work your way down the vehicle, and continue to rinse the towel in clean water until you finish with the wheels and bumpers.
• Rinse the vehicle to remove all the soap.
• Take a clean, soft towel and thoroughly dry the surface of the vehicle.
• Use a microfiber cloth designed for polishing glass, and finalize washing and cleaning the exterior of the VW by polishing the windows and windshield.

Cleaning the Interior Surfaces

A clean interior provides an enhanced and safe driving experience. Follow these steps to ensure a clean interior for your Volkswagen:

Products needed for a successful cleaning include:

• Interior glass cleaner.
• Disinfecting wipes.
• Leather or upholstery cleaner.
• Spot carpet cleaner.
• Microfiber cloths.
• A bucket.
• Feather duster.
• Crevice cleaning tool.
• Car vacuum with attachments.
• Take out the floor mats and shake or vacuum them.
• If needed, apply carpet cleaner on stained spots.
• For rubberized mats, brush them off and then hose away excess dirt and grime. Wash with dish soap and a scrub brush, rinse, and hang them to dry.
• Vacuum the entire interior using attachments as necessary to reach all parts, including between and under the seats.
• Use a duster to clean the vents, and the microfiber cloths to dust the dashboard, steering wheel, and center console. Use disinfecting wipes to remove excess germs and bacteria.
• Use a damp cloth to clean cup holders, door panels, and high-touch areas.
• Use upholstery or leather cleaner to clean the seats and soft-touch surfaces.
• Finish by cleaning the interior of the windows with an ammonia-free glass cleaner.

Detailing Your Volkswagen Like a Pro

While we recommend having your VW detailed by a professional, if you decide to do it yourself, follow these steps:

Polishing and Waxing the Exterior

Along with having the right tools, you need the best products for detailing your VW.

Products needed for polishing:

• Polishing tool.
• High-quality polishing compound.
• Polishing pads.
• Microfiber cloths.
• Clay bar.
• Wash and dry your Volkswagen before beginning the polishing process and park in the shade.
• Take the clay bar and remove small contaminants and scratches from the paint.
• Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth after each use of the clay bar.
• Prepare the polishing wheel with polishing pads.
• Apply the polishing compound, carefully wet the polishing pad, and press the pad onto the surface of the vehicle.
• Polish small areas at a time, and with a wet cloth, remove the polish before it dries.
• Once you’ve completed applying the polish compound and polishing with the wheel, make a final wipe with clean microfiber cloths to ensure all the polishing compound is removed.

After polishing the surface of the VW, it’s time to wax it.

• Buy a spray, paste, or liquid polish made from a carnauba wax base.
• If using spray or liquid polish, shake the contents thoroughly and apply small amounts on a section of the VW.
• Rub the wax in with a damp microfiber cloth.
• Before the compound dries, rub it off with a clean microfiber cloth.

Deep Cleaning Interior Fabrics and Materials

Even though you routinely clean the interior of your car, once or twice a year, consider deep cleaning it to remove deep stains or stubborn odors.

• Determine the type of upholstery your VW has, and choose the appropriate cleaner.
• Vacuum the interior’s seating and carpet surfaces.
• Apply the cleaning surface per the instructions of the cleaner, being careful to follow the instructions carefully.
• After rinsing the product, let it thoroughly dry and vacuum again.

Maintaining Your Volkswagen’s Appearance

With regular maintenance and a routine cleaning schedule, you can keep up your VW’s appearance for years to come.

Routing Cleaning Schedule

Easy routine tasks you can do include:

• Monthly washing of the exterior and vacuuming of the interior.
• Weekly collection of bits and pieces of trash.
• Waxing every three months.
• Polishing and waxing every six months.

Protecting Your Car From Environmental Damage

The best way to protect your car from environmental damage such as bird droppings, tree sap, and UV rays is to cover the vehicle. If you have a garage, keep your VW parked inside. If not, park under a covered carport. For those who don’t have a covered structure, order a car cover specific to your unique vehicle, and be sure to put the cover on the vehicle as often as possible to keep it clean and free from environmental damage.

Keep Your Volkswagen Looking New With Professional Detailing at Volkswagen Marion

As you can see, keeping your Volkswagen clean and detailed is important for its longevity and your pride in ownership. Instead of struggling to keep the exterior and interior of your Volkswagen looking prime, why not schedule service with us at VW of Marion to have your vehicle professionally cleaned and detailed? We’ll ensure your Volkswagen gets detailed attention to keep it looking clean and presentable. Contact us today for more information on our Volkswagen detailing service.

The Importance of Keeping Your Vehicle Clean Image by Luca is licensed with Unsplash License