Keeping your car clean, tidy and
safe
For many of us, keeping our car clean
is a matter of pride and something we enjoy doing as a central part
of our motoring hobby. But busy lives often leave little time for
cleaning and tidying our cars, and this can be a more serious problem
than it might seem.
Keeping the exterior of your vehicle
clean will not only prolong the life of your car and save you money
on potentially expensive car
insurance claims but it can also save your life. The effects of
the weather on your car, along with the build-up of dirt and grease
over time can lead to a number of cosmetic problems and also put you
at risk of not being able to drive your car safely.
Car covers are a great way to protect
your car against the damage that the elements can inflict upon it.
Whether you choose a lightweight, breathable car cover or something
more heavy duty, you can protect against damage caused by dust,
grime, bird droppings, tree sap, frost, ice and snow. If you don’t
use a car cover, you might find yourself with damage to your car that
is not covered by your standard or temporary
car insurance policy.
Keeping your
car’s number plate clear and readable is a legal requirement. A car
cover can help prevent it being obscured by snow, frost or ice during
the winter but throughout the year it is essential that you ensure it
does not become obscured by the mud, dust, dirt and grime that can
accumulate as you drive.
If you fail to keep your front or rear
number plate clear and readable at all times, you could receive a
fixed penalty notice for having an obscured number plate.
The cleanliness of your windscreen is
perhaps an even more pertinent issue. Particularly during the autumn
and winter months, dirt and grime can build up on the windscreen and
severely reduce visibility while driving. The salt and grit that is
spread on the roads during winter months mixes with moisture on the
roads and sprays up onto front and rear windscreens, making it more
difficult to keep windscreens clean. To make sure you’re equipped
to clear your windscreen, make regular checks that your wiper fluid
is topped up and keep cleaning products in your car should you need
to pull over and clear it during a journey.
A tip to keep your windscreen wipers at
their best is to rub them down with vinegar after cleaning them. It
is important to replace windscreen wipers if they become too worn or
do not clear the windscreen properly due to poor contact.
Cleaning the interior of your car can
be just as important in protecting the car’s value and ensuring its
safety. Having excess clutter around your vehicle can be a
distraction as well as a danger, especially during the summer months
when an open window could allow a gust of wind to send your work
papers flying around the car, severely increasing the risk of an
accident.
Keeping an eye on the cleanliness of
the driver’s pedals in your car can be the difference between
avoiding a crash and having one. Just a small amount of grease on the
brake pedal could prove disastrous, so make regular checks that the
driver’s footwell is clean, tidy and clutter-free.
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