Did you know that it’s easy to keep your car looking like new without spending a fortune on professional car detailers or pricey products?
With some basic household items, a bit of time and a little elbow grease, you can have your car looking super clean and shiny and what’s more, by keeping it in tip-top shape, you’ll be making sure it holds its value at resale time.
The first step is to get rid of any accumulated dust and dirt in the interior of the car and you can do this easily with your domestic vacuum cleaner. Use different attachments to clean any pet hair or embedded beach sand, spruce up cloth seats and reach into those awkward nooks and crannies.
Tip: Use a blower to blow out dust and sand from inaccessible areas.
The next step is to wipe down the vinyl interior of the car using a soft, non-abrasive cloth (an old t-shirt, towel or pantyhose are just as effective) and a homemade cleaning solution. Simply combine a cup of warm water, a tablespoon of mineral or baby oil, a tablespoon of white vinegar and a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle and voila! An even simpler – and cheaper – option is to simply mix equal parts of white vinegar and warm water for an effective interior detailing solution.
For the car’s exterior, it’s best to use a car wash detergent which is specially formulated to prevent any dirt or grime from scratching the paint but which is also sufficiently gentle so it won’t affect the wax coating. A solution made from water and a little bit of hair conditioner that contains lanolin is another budget beater for cleaning your car’s exterior and bringing out the shine.
When it comes to cleaning tyres, remember that you should never use the same sponge for your wheels that you use on the car body. The rims and tyres collect all sorts of abrasive material which can collect in the sponge and then damage the paintwork – so keep your cloths and sponges separate.
An old toothbrush is the perfect tool for cleaning your wheels and rims – and yes, it will take a bit of effort, but the result will be worth it. Make a paste of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and water, smear it onto the tyres and scrub away! Car wheels can be washed using a soft cloth and a weak vinegar and water solution, but remember that vinegar may be corrosive, so avoid using it on aluminium alloys.
Tip: Toothpaste can be used to clean headlights and any chrome bumpers and handles.
Always clean the windows last – and make sure that you always use an ammonia-free product otherwise you run the risk of damaging the vinyl or leather upholstery. There are many DIY window-cleaners, but the simplest (and cheapest) recipe is to mix one part white vinegar with two parts warm water and use as you would a regular window cleaner. Another budget-beating trick is to use old newspapers to clean windows instead of paper towel.
Tip: If you sprinkle cream of tartar (from the baking aisle in the supermarket) over the windscreen, wipe it down using soapy water, rinse and wipe dry – you’ll get rid of the layer of oily grime that can build up on the glass.
On the subject of windscreens, it’s important to remember that these play a crucial role in keeping you safe on the road and you need to make sure that yours is clean, well-maintained and free from damage. A chip in your windscreen can quickly become a big crack, so if you do spot something, it’s important to get it fixed as soon as possible to prevent a dangerous situation.
Autoscreens are a leading mobile windscreen repairer in Perth and have established a strong reputation for fast, efficient and friendly service for all types of windscreen repairs. They are approved by all major insurance companies and offer a lifetime warranty on their work – and best of all, they’re family owned and operated so you get personalised service from friendly experts who’ve been in the industry for 20 years. If you need a fast and reliable response to your windscreen repair or replacement in Perth, contact Autoscreens now.
Jason Squire started Autoscreens in 2010. With over 35 years of experience gained in both the UK and Australia, the company is well established as a leading provider of windscreen replacement and autoglass repairs in Perth.
His journey to becoming a certified repairer license holder status with DMIRS (and business repair license MRB3703) began many years ago. He was born and brought up in the UK – the country where his long career in the automotive industry began. In common with many of the world’s best tradespeople it all started with an apprenticeship. For Jason, this was in vehicle bodybuilding and a specialisation in vehicle conversions.
He followed that up with several additional professional qualifications, including a Grade A Vehicle Body Building Certificate from the Road Transport Industry, a GQA level 2 in NVQ Automotive Glazing and a Level 2 qualification in Joining Materials by Welding from the UK Engineer Training Authority.
During his studies, Jason was also a part-time volunteer in the Royals signals with the Reserve Territorial Army. Between 1991 and 1995, Jason completed his Phase One Signallers Course with the Royal Armoured Corps and was awarded a Certificate of Trade Proficiency as a Territorial Army Driver Electrician Class 3. Training exercises took him all over Europe. He also represented the Signals in Rugby.
From there, he joined the armed forces on a full-time basis with the Queens Royal Lancers and continued to impress with his leadership skills and willingness to broaden his skillset, during which he lived in Germany. In 1996, he graduated from the Queens Royal Lancer Leadership Academy where he was named best recruit. His time with the Queens Royal Lancers he qualified as Tank Driver, Crew Medic and Gunner.
In 1999, Jason left the armed forces to join RAC Auto Windscreens. His skillset enabled him to fast-track his career to base supervisor and lead technician working with premiere dealerships in Crewe, Cheshire.
He also continued to volunteer in a number of different areas, including as a first responder with the West Midlands Ambulance Service and a scout leader with the Scout Association.
He relocated to Australia in 2008 with his young family and spent his first two years down under as a head technician for a national windscreen company.
However, with all his experience, extensive qualifications and his abiding passion for the automotive industry, it was inevitable that he would start his own company and make his mark as an industry leader.
He started Autoscreens in 2010 and has grown the business into the leading windscreen repair and replacement company in Perth, servicing both domestic and commercial customers. Autoscreens has a certified Motor Vehicle Repairers Licence MRB3703 issued by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
