How to Prepare Your Car for Spring

A 6-step guide to keep your car running smoothly in spring

Over the winter months, our vehicles can easily become dirty and unkempt, both inside and out. If, like most people, you only give your car a proper sprucing-up once or twice a year, then now’s the time to put in some extra elbow grease and get it back in tip-top condition with some spring cleaning!  But that’s not all you should be doing to prepare your car for safe spring journeys. 

As we start to thaw out at the end of winter, our vehicles require maintenance in keeping with the changing of the seasons. So, while you’re scrubbing your mats and mirrors, you should also take the time to perform a number of essential maintenance checks that contribute to the upkeep of your vehicle. 

If you’re thinking about giving your car a spring clean (and ensuring it’s fully road-ready while you’re at it), this simple guide should provide you with some helpful pointers.

Spring cleaning your car

From the dashboard to the bonnet, you can make sure every nook and cranny of your car has been thoroughly washed, wiped, and scrubbed when you give it a spring clean — and here’s how. 

What you need

First things first, you’ll need to make sure you have all the essential cleaning items on hand. If you haven’t already got them, you can purchase car shampoo, chamois cloths, sponges, and window cleaner from most garages or petrol stations. If you want your car to have some extra shine and protection, you may also want to purchase some polish or wax. 

When washing your car, ideally you’ll have access to a hose pipe or pressure washer, and a carpet cleaning machine if possible. Of course, a good old fashioned bucket of water and detergent will also do just fine. If you’re going to do a maintenance inspection - and we recommend you do - make sure you have your owner’s manual at the ready too.

Spring cleaning your car's interior

As most drivers will know, the inside of your car can easily become dirty, especially during the winter when shoes constantly bring in mud and debris. Follow the steps below to get your car’s interior clean as quickly and simply as possible.

1. Take out the mats under each seat and give them a good shake to get rid of any loose dirt.

Tip: Use this time to check for any existing wet patches on the carpets, as this can be a sign that rainwater has found a way in over the winter. If you do find a damp area and you can’t figure out where the water’s coming from, take your car to a professional who will be able to locate the source of the problem and fix it. 

2. Hoover the carpets and seats of your car with a nozzle attachment that lets you get in the crevices and hard-to-reach places. 

Tip: If you want to shampoo your carpets and upholstery, try to choose a warm day when they will dry quickly. 

3. Next, it’s time to give the interior surfaces a wipe down with a water-soaked cloth.

Tip: Take care to remove any dust from the dashboard while avoiding getting any electronics wet. 

4. Clean the inside windows with glass cleaner, including the rearview mirror. 

Tip: Use a different dry cloth to wipe away the smear marks after applying the glass cleaner for a streak-free finish. 

5. Jettison any junk from the compartments. Do you really need those receipts from 6 months ago?)

Tip: If you're still displaying your old tax disc, you can now remove this as it’s no longer a legal requirement.

6. You may also want to give your boot a clear out by getting rid of any mess that has accumulated over the winter and giving the carpet a vacuum.

The exterior

Next: the exterior. From mud spatters to accumulated salt and grime flicking up from the road surfaces over winter, the exterior of our cars is exposed to all sorts of the colder months (and we wouldn’t blame you for not getting the bucket and sponge out in December). 

For a quick and easy car clean that’ll leave your paintwork in pristine condition, follow these steps:

1. Start by hosing down the car with warm water and soap, beginning at the roof before making your way down to the wheels and brakes. 

Pay particular attention to the wheel arches, as this is where most of the dirt and grime from the road tends to gather. In some cases, a quick hose down won’t be enough and you’ll need to remove the hubcaps and scrub the tyres more thoroughly. If you find that some of the mud won’t budge, try leaving it to soak for a while. Read our blog on ‘How To Clean Your Car Tyres’ for more information.

2. Once you’ve rinsed off the soap and let it dry, you might decide that you want to add a polish or wax to give the paintwork an extra sheen. 

Use a chamois cloth to apply the product while following the instructions on the packaging. If you’ve never used the wax or polish before, it’s worth trying it out on a small, hidden section of the car first to see if it works. 

If you notice any chips, scratches or rust while doing this, remember that it’s always better to deal with these problems now rather than later, as the damage might get worse with time. 

3. It’s also important to pay attention to the exterior windows, which will no doubt collect a fair amount of grime over the winter. 

Use a glass cleaner and then buff them with a dry cloth, including the wing mirrors. 

4. Finally, don’t forget to check under the bonnet in your engine bay. 

You can remove any leaves, twigs or other debris that has collected there over winter yourself, or take it to a garage to have the engine professionally cleaned if it looks particularly dirty.

For an in-depth car cleaning guide that works year-round, read our blog ‘The Complete Guide to Cleaning Your Car’.

Spring vehicle maintenance 

Now that your car is clean, it’s equally (if not more so) important to ensure that it is roadworthy. Besides, you’re probably already covered in suds and grime from the hosepipe, so what’s a little more dirt from crouching down to check your tyres?

Highways England recommends that you carry out a few basic safety checks on your vehicle before heading out on long journeys — and during  a spring cleaning session is the perfect time to check in on how your car’s doing after a long winter. 

Completing the simple checks below will not only ensure that your vehicle is safe but also can save you money as repairs become more costly the longer they are left. 

Tyre checks

One of the most important elements of vehicle safety is your tyres, as they are the point of contact between your vehicle and the road. Two key aspects of your tyres that you should check are tread depth and pressure. 

Tyre pressure 

You can check your manufacturer’s recommended tyre pressure in your vehicle maintenance guide, in the inside front door or on the fuel cap. These pressures refer to an unladen vehicle so if you’re planning on transporting a heavy load, then you should check what the laden pressures should be.

To make sure that your tyre pressure matches up to the manufacturer’s recommendations, you should remove the valve dust cap, press the gauge onto the valve and the gauge will show you the tyre pressure reading. If the reading falls outside of the manufacturer’s recommendations then it is important to inflate or deflate the tyre as required. 

Make sure to get your spare tyre checked too! For a full guide, read our blog on ‘How To Check Your Tyre Pressure’.

Tyre tread depth 

It is also important that your tyres have a good amount of tread depth. The UK legal limit is 1.6 mm. However, tyre performance decreases at anything below 3mm. You can check your tread depth with the 20p test. Place a 20p coin in the main grooves of the tyre, if you can see the outer part of the coin, then you don’t have enough tread left and it is vital that you replace your tyres whenever possible.

General tyre wear and tear 

If your tyres do appear to be worn or damaged, you’ll need to get them replaced right away. Also, if you’re using winter tyres, now’s the time to swap them back to summer versions. 

Battery checks

Checking your battery is another crucial element of vehicle safety that can be seen when spring cleaning. 

Most modern car batteries have a performance indicator so it’s obvious when they need replacing and there isn’t much you need to check on them. However, checking terminal connections are clean is one thing that can help to prevent dirt and grease from building up. If you’re concerned about your battery you can book a Free Battery Heath Check at your local Kwik Fit where we will take a look at your battery and how it is performing.

Keep an eye on fluid levels

Maintaining the strength and levels of your coolant (or anti-freeze) is essential for keeping your vehicle running as efficiently as possible. And, after a winter of defrosting the windscreen, your car’s fluid levels may well be depleted come spring.

When your engine is cool, look to see whether the coolant liquid reaches the full line and, if it doesn’t, top up as necessary. It should be topped up with a mixture of water and coolant until it’s at the right level. It is important never to add coolant to a hot engine as this can put you at risk of being burned or damaging your vehicle. 

The level of your screenwash fluid should also be checked to make sure that it is sufficient and topped up when required.

Blades and bulbs

Wiper blades are often overlooked in vehicle maintenance. However, they are important in clearing your screen especially in wet weather conditions. It is crucial that these wiper blades are checked for possible damage.

Ensuring that your car light bulbs are working properly is crucial to vehicle safety. Both your internal and external lights should be working properly. Internal lights indicate potential problems with your vehicle while external lights alert other drivers to your presence. Lights that aren’t working properly are a common cause of MOT failure. It is your responsibility to ensure that your lights are clean and adjusted to the right settings. You could be stopped by the police if there are issues with your light bulbs.

Keep your car feeling like new with Kwik Fit

By giving your car a spring clean and carrying out basic maintenance checks, you can make sure that it not only looks great for the warmer months, but that it’s also functioning and performing at its best. 

Need a hand with spring car maintenance? Contact us or book into your nearest Kwik Fit centre for a Free Vehicle Safety Chec where our team will ensure that your vehicle is  ready for the warmer weather. 

If you need a full top-to-bottom check, why not book in for a service today? In the meantime, keep up to date with the latest vehicle maintenance advice on the Kwik Fit Blog.