Todd@RUPES
Just a regular guy
Autopia Winter Care Guide: 2 of 3
Winterize the Interior of Your Automobile
Holiday music dominates the radio, attempting to lift your spirit in spite of frigid temperatures and cold-weather blues. Winter is fast approaching. In the first part of this three part series, we looked at winterizing the exterior of your automobile. In this, the second installment of the series, we will look at protecting your interior from the harsh winter environment.
Vacuum!
The first step in getting your interior ready for winter is to remove as much dirt and soil from the carpets and interior surfaces as possible. A good interior detail starts with vacuuming. If you have a powerful Shop-Vac you can use this. If not, Metropolitan Vacuum Cleaner Company offers a wide variety of powerful vacuums that are built in America and constructed to last. Start by vacuuming any loose soil from the dashboard, arm rests, seats, and door panels. Use brush and crevice attachments to vacuum in hard-to-reach areas.
Continue working, from the top down, until you reach the carpets. If you are vacuuming the front, move the seats to their rearmost positions; if you are vacuuming the back seats move the front seats forward. After vacuuming, take a carpet brush such as the Tampico Upholstery & Carpet Scrub Brush, and lightly brush to loosen any grit that has become entangled deep within the carpet's pile. Vacuum once again the loosened grit.
Clean All Surfaces
All protective dressings and applications will last longer and deliver maximum results if applied to a completely clean surface. The next step in preparing your interior for winter is to thoroughly clean the various surfaces of the interior.
Ultima Interior Gel Shampoo Gel is an excellent general purpose cleaner that is safe for all interior surfaces. You can use it to remove light dirt and soiling from leather, wood trim, metal, plastic, vinyl, soft-touch dash material, and even headliners. Simply spray, agitate with a soft brush or microfiber towel, and wipe clean. If your interior is heavily soiled use a properly diluted cleaner like BLACKFIRE All In One All Purpose Cleaner to remove tough soiling.
Take your time and thoroughly clean around all of the surfaces such as the steering wheel, shift boot, and seat rails. Remove rubber pieces from cup holders and clean around them as well. Both the Detailing Brush Kit and the 1-inch Round Natural Detail Brush make it easy to clean dash vents, control buttons, and instrument bezels.
If you have leather interior surfaces inspect them by touch. The dry air of a car heater and the freezing temperatures can quickly age leather. If your leather no longer feels as soft as the day your vehicle was new know is the time to condition it. Leatherique Prestine Clean and Leatherique Rejuvenator Oil work together to replenish leather's oils and restore softness from within. First apply the oil and allow to sit for several hours. Park the car outside with the windows up or run the heater to warm the interior. Finally clean the seats with Leatherique Prestine Clean to reveal the revitalized leather.
Protect
We track snow, sludge, and road salt into our interior in the winter, each of which acts to harm the various finishes in various ways. Traditional store-bought silicone-based dressings do not deliver the protection your interior needs and because many trap dirt, lead to an increase in wear. Even worse, many of these “protective dressings” will fog interior windows, which leads to a frost film that is difficult to remove when the temperature drops.
Ultima Interior Guard Plus uses superior science and technology to coat, seal and protect every finish in your fine automobile. This clear sealant dries completely and will not leave a greasy, slippery film that attracts dust. Instead, fabrics, leather and vinyl all take on the tactile feel of fine cashmere. You will glide in and out of your leather seating and feel a new comfort that’s silky smooth, but not slippery.
Carpets and floor mats are particularly abused as they act to clean winter filth from the bottom of your boots. 303 High Tech Fabric Guard is the ultimate fabric protectant! It restores lost water repellency and stain repellency to factory levels. 303 High Tech Fabric Guard resists soiling and impedes mildew formation. Treated surfaces stay cleaner, longer! This protectant works better and lasts longer than silicone-based protectants because the repellent nature keeps carpet cleaner.
Another excellent option in protecting your carpets is to cover them with WeatherTech Floor Mats. WeatherTech offers both rugged mats and complete floor liners. These are easy to remove and clean and keep your carpet tucked underneath a protective rubber shell.
Clean Your Glass!
While the need for clear vision in any season is self explanatory, winter brings us even more challenges. Exhaling warm air in a cold environment can quickly fog the windows, particularly if there are any oils or streaks present. Clean all of your interior glass using Pinnacle Crystal Clear Glass Cleaner with Water Repellent. Not only does this cleaner cut through grease and dry streak free, but the addition of water repellent helps prevent fog from forming, keeping your vision clean as your interior warms up. Spray onto the glass and spread with a Waffle Weave Microfiber Glass Towel. Flip the towel over, or switch to a fresh one, and wipe away any grease and streaks. It's that easy!
Door Jambs
In the previous newsletter we touched on protecting your door seals and it bears repeating. The weather stripping that seals you from the environment is made from a soft rubber that can freeze and dry out in the harsh winter climate. When the seals dry out they will allow a cold draft of air to enter the interior. In the worst cases, they can freeze shut, locking you out in the cold. Wurth Rubber Care Gel Stick provides an easy-to-apply solution to both problems. It conditions and moisturizes the rubber to prevent it from drying out. More importantly, it leaves a non-stick protectant film that prevents the doors from freezing shut.
Finally
Now is the time to ward off corrosion and keep all door hinges working freely. CorrosionX Lubricant and Penetrant is an advanced powerful lubricant and inhibitor. A quick spray on door hinges, seat rails, locks, and pedal pivot points (not the pedals themselves) will protect against rust and keep things operating smoothly. As the temperature drops metal shrinks and once parts can bind and freeze. A little prevention will help keep your parts running smoothly.
Mechanical
Before the most severe weather sets in, have your vehicle checked by your automotive technician. Make sure vital operating systems such as the charging system (battery in good repair, alternator functioning properly), the coolant system (proper anti-freeze mixture), and engine are in good tune. Have your technician inspect your tires and brake system. Have the starter motor checked, particularly if your vehicle is more than a couple of years old. Now may be a great time to replace your windshield wiper blades and cabin air filter.
Coming Soon...
In the first Autopia Winter Care Newsletter we looked at the proper steps necessary to winterize and protect the exterior of your vehicle. In this, the second Autopia Winter Care Newsletter we looked at simple steps for detailing and protecting the interior of your vehicle. In the third and final Autopia Winter Care Newsletter we will look ways to wash and maintain your vehicle's protection in the coldest months.
Metropolitan Vacuum Cleaner Company
Tampico Upholstery & Carpet Scrub Brush
Ultima Interior Gel Shampoo Gel
BLACKFIRE All In One All Purpose Cleaner
Detailing Brush Kit
1-inch Round Natural Detail Brush
Leatherique Prestine Clean
Leatherique Rejuvenator Oil
Ultima Interior Guard Plus
303 High Tech Fabric Guard
WeatherTech Floor Mats
Pinnacle Crystal Clear Glass Cleaner with Water Repellent
Waffle Weave Microfiber Glass Towel
Wurth Rubber Care Gel Stick
CorrosionX Lubricant and Penetrant
Winterize the Interior of Your Automobile
Holiday music dominates the radio, attempting to lift your spirit in spite of frigid temperatures and cold-weather blues. Winter is fast approaching. In the first part of this three part series, we looked at winterizing the exterior of your automobile. In this, the second installment of the series, we will look at protecting your interior from the harsh winter environment.
Vacuum!
The first step in getting your interior ready for winter is to remove as much dirt and soil from the carpets and interior surfaces as possible. A good interior detail starts with vacuuming. If you have a powerful Shop-Vac you can use this. If not, Metropolitan Vacuum Cleaner Company offers a wide variety of powerful vacuums that are built in America and constructed to last. Start by vacuuming any loose soil from the dashboard, arm rests, seats, and door panels. Use brush and crevice attachments to vacuum in hard-to-reach areas.
Continue working, from the top down, until you reach the carpets. If you are vacuuming the front, move the seats to their rearmost positions; if you are vacuuming the back seats move the front seats forward. After vacuuming, take a carpet brush such as the Tampico Upholstery & Carpet Scrub Brush, and lightly brush to loosen any grit that has become entangled deep within the carpet's pile. Vacuum once again the loosened grit.
Clean All Surfaces
All protective dressings and applications will last longer and deliver maximum results if applied to a completely clean surface. The next step in preparing your interior for winter is to thoroughly clean the various surfaces of the interior.
Ultima Interior Gel Shampoo Gel is an excellent general purpose cleaner that is safe for all interior surfaces. You can use it to remove light dirt and soiling from leather, wood trim, metal, plastic, vinyl, soft-touch dash material, and even headliners. Simply spray, agitate with a soft brush or microfiber towel, and wipe clean. If your interior is heavily soiled use a properly diluted cleaner like BLACKFIRE All In One All Purpose Cleaner to remove tough soiling.
Take your time and thoroughly clean around all of the surfaces such as the steering wheel, shift boot, and seat rails. Remove rubber pieces from cup holders and clean around them as well. Both the Detailing Brush Kit and the 1-inch Round Natural Detail Brush make it easy to clean dash vents, control buttons, and instrument bezels.
If you have leather interior surfaces inspect them by touch. The dry air of a car heater and the freezing temperatures can quickly age leather. If your leather no longer feels as soft as the day your vehicle was new know is the time to condition it. Leatherique Prestine Clean and Leatherique Rejuvenator Oil work together to replenish leather's oils and restore softness from within. First apply the oil and allow to sit for several hours. Park the car outside with the windows up or run the heater to warm the interior. Finally clean the seats with Leatherique Prestine Clean to reveal the revitalized leather.
Protect
We track snow, sludge, and road salt into our interior in the winter, each of which acts to harm the various finishes in various ways. Traditional store-bought silicone-based dressings do not deliver the protection your interior needs and because many trap dirt, lead to an increase in wear. Even worse, many of these “protective dressings” will fog interior windows, which leads to a frost film that is difficult to remove when the temperature drops.
Ultima Interior Guard Plus uses superior science and technology to coat, seal and protect every finish in your fine automobile. This clear sealant dries completely and will not leave a greasy, slippery film that attracts dust. Instead, fabrics, leather and vinyl all take on the tactile feel of fine cashmere. You will glide in and out of your leather seating and feel a new comfort that’s silky smooth, but not slippery.
Carpets and floor mats are particularly abused as they act to clean winter filth from the bottom of your boots. 303 High Tech Fabric Guard is the ultimate fabric protectant! It restores lost water repellency and stain repellency to factory levels. 303 High Tech Fabric Guard resists soiling and impedes mildew formation. Treated surfaces stay cleaner, longer! This protectant works better and lasts longer than silicone-based protectants because the repellent nature keeps carpet cleaner.
Another excellent option in protecting your carpets is to cover them with WeatherTech Floor Mats. WeatherTech offers both rugged mats and complete floor liners. These are easy to remove and clean and keep your carpet tucked underneath a protective rubber shell.
Clean Your Glass!
While the need for clear vision in any season is self explanatory, winter brings us even more challenges. Exhaling warm air in a cold environment can quickly fog the windows, particularly if there are any oils or streaks present. Clean all of your interior glass using Pinnacle Crystal Clear Glass Cleaner with Water Repellent. Not only does this cleaner cut through grease and dry streak free, but the addition of water repellent helps prevent fog from forming, keeping your vision clean as your interior warms up. Spray onto the glass and spread with a Waffle Weave Microfiber Glass Towel. Flip the towel over, or switch to a fresh one, and wipe away any grease and streaks. It's that easy!
Door Jambs
In the previous newsletter we touched on protecting your door seals and it bears repeating. The weather stripping that seals you from the environment is made from a soft rubber that can freeze and dry out in the harsh winter climate. When the seals dry out they will allow a cold draft of air to enter the interior. In the worst cases, they can freeze shut, locking you out in the cold. Wurth Rubber Care Gel Stick provides an easy-to-apply solution to both problems. It conditions and moisturizes the rubber to prevent it from drying out. More importantly, it leaves a non-stick protectant film that prevents the doors from freezing shut.
Finally
Now is the time to ward off corrosion and keep all door hinges working freely. CorrosionX Lubricant and Penetrant is an advanced powerful lubricant and inhibitor. A quick spray on door hinges, seat rails, locks, and pedal pivot points (not the pedals themselves) will protect against rust and keep things operating smoothly. As the temperature drops metal shrinks and once parts can bind and freeze. A little prevention will help keep your parts running smoothly.
Mechanical
Before the most severe weather sets in, have your vehicle checked by your automotive technician. Make sure vital operating systems such as the charging system (battery in good repair, alternator functioning properly), the coolant system (proper anti-freeze mixture), and engine are in good tune. Have your technician inspect your tires and brake system. Have the starter motor checked, particularly if your vehicle is more than a couple of years old. Now may be a great time to replace your windshield wiper blades and cabin air filter.
Coming Soon...
In the first Autopia Winter Care Newsletter we looked at the proper steps necessary to winterize and protect the exterior of your vehicle. In this, the second Autopia Winter Care Newsletter we looked at simple steps for detailing and protecting the interior of your vehicle. In the third and final Autopia Winter Care Newsletter we will look ways to wash and maintain your vehicle's protection in the coldest months.
Metropolitan Vacuum Cleaner Company
Tampico Upholstery & Carpet Scrub Brush
Ultima Interior Gel Shampoo Gel
BLACKFIRE All In One All Purpose Cleaner
Detailing Brush Kit
1-inch Round Natural Detail Brush
Leatherique Prestine Clean
Leatherique Rejuvenator Oil
Ultima Interior Guard Plus
303 High Tech Fabric Guard
WeatherTech Floor Mats
Pinnacle Crystal Clear Glass Cleaner with Water Repellent
Waffle Weave Microfiber Glass Towel
Wurth Rubber Care Gel Stick
CorrosionX Lubricant and Penetrant
