With the arrival of the warmer season, staying at home at the weekend becomes harder and harder. Day trips, seaside or mountain getaways, afternoons by the lake, museum visits: there are plenty of opportunities to hit the road and, in most cases, the car becomes an essential travel companion.

And as the days grow brighter, so does the desire to see it clean, tidy and shining, ready for every new destination.

Cleaning your car at home is not complicated, but it does require a little extra care and the right tools. Here are a few tips for taking care of the interiors, windows and bodywork, making your car shine as if it had just left the dealership.

Where should you start when washing your car?

Some people prefer to start with the interiors, but we recommend beginning with the exterior. This way, once the bodywork is already wet, it will also be easier to clean the inner edges of the doors and remove the dirt that builds up in the areas you touch and step through most often.

First of all, rinse the car thoroughly with water to soften dust, residue and surface dirt. Then apply a specific car body shampoo and work on the most difficult areas with the Martini SPA Car Sponge with Special Grip.

Focus especially on:

• the front of the car;
• headlights;
• the outside of the wing mirrors;
• the area under the handles;
• bumpers and the areas most exposed to the road.

These are precisely the areas where insects, dust, smog and stubborn residue tend to build up and are difficult to remove with water alone.

How to clean car windows without scratching them

After the bodywork, it is time to move on to the windows. Windscreen, rear window and side windows all require careful cleaning, because streaks and dirt can reduce visibility and make the car look less well cared for.

For this step, you can use the Special Car Glass Sponge, designed specifically for cleaning glass surfaces. Super absorbent and gentle on surfaces, it is ideal for removing stubborn dirt without scratching.

For the best result, use regular movements and rinse the sponge thoroughly as you go, so you do not drag any residue across the glass surface.

The secret to shiny bodywork: dry it properly

After soaping and rinsing the car thoroughly, comes one of the most important steps: drying.

Leaving the car to air dry may seem convenient, but it often leads to streaks and water spots, especially on the bodywork and windows. For a more even, glossy result, it is better to dry all surfaces by hand.

The Martini SPA Natural Leather Cloth is ideal for drying the bodywork without leaving residue. Soft and super absorbent, it helps remove water and soap marks, leaving the surface clean and shiny.

How to clean car interiors

Once you have finished cleaning the exterior, you can move on to the interiors.

The first thing to do is remove everything that has built up inside the passenger compartment: plastic bottles, paper, receipts, packaging, small objects and any other bits and pieces. It may seem like a trivial step, but it is essential if you want to work properly and reach every corner of the car.

Once the space is clear, vacuum:

• seats;
• floor mats;
• boot;
• side compartments in the doors;
• gaps between the seats;
• areas under the floor mats.

At this point, you can focus on the most frequently used surfaces, such as the steering wheel, gear lever, dashboard, interior handles and door panels.

To clean them, use the Martini SPA Ultra Microfibre Cloth, slightly damp, possibly together with a specific car interior cleaner. Microfibre is perfect for capturing dust and dirt without being aggressive on delicate surfaces.

Ready for your next destination

After cleaning the bodywork, windows and interiors, your car will look tidier, brighter and more pleasant to spend time in.
All that is left to do is add a car air freshener, choose your next destination and enjoy the journey with a whole new feeling of clean.