Spring has finally sprung!

After a long Montana winter, your vehicle may have experienced some wear-and-tear. Extreme cold and harsh winter elements, plus icky road salt, can take a toll on new and used cars in Billings. Your vehicle could probably use a little extra care right now.

Thankfully, April is National Car Care Month! 

Set aside some time this month to clean and prep your vehicle for warm-weather driving. Before you tackle this project, gather all the necessary items ahead of time.

Here's what you'll need to clean Billings used cars:

• Vacuum cleaner with hose and attachments
• Garden hose or bucket of water
• Car wash soap
• Washcloth or sponge
• Paper towels
• Lint-free rags
• Window cleaner
• Vinyl cleaner/protector
• Old toothbrush
• Q-tips

How to Clean Your Car's Exterior

First, give the outside of your ride a good cleaning. Billings car washes and waxes will protect your car's paint and body from corrosive debris.

Not interested in going to a local car wash? No problem! Here's how to clean the exterior of your vehicle yourself.

1. Assemble your bucket, hose, soap, washcloth, and sponge. 
2. Pour soap into the bucket while running water from the hose. 
3. Rinse off your car with the hose. 
4. Dip your cloth or sponge into the soapy water and begin wiping down your car, one section at a time. 
5. Rinse car with the hose and wipe it down with clean water. 
6. Clean your wheels with the cloth and rinse with clean water. 
7. Dry your car with a clean cloth. 

The more often you wash your vehicle, the less time it will take overall, so be sure to do it regularly!

How to Clean Your Car's Interior

The inside of used cars in Billings can get just as grimy as the outside, so don't forget to clean your car's interior.

Here's how to give all those nooks and crannies a good cleaning.

1. Begin by disposing of any trash in your car, and set aside all personalize items so they don't get in the way.
2. Remove the floor mats, and shake and beat them outside. Spray the mats with a hose or scrub for a thorough clean. 
3. Vacuum the floors. Use the vacuum's attachment to get between seats and around your pedals. Try to catch all loose rock, dirt, and gravel.
4. Take your lint-free rag and spray it with the vinyl cleaner/protector. Wipe the cloth all over vinyl surfaces inside the the vehicle. 
5. Used your old toothbrush and Q-tips to clean out the hard-to-reach places.
6. Spray window cleaner on the inside and outside of glass surfaces, and wipe down with paper towels. Only use this product on non-porous surfaces, like plastic, metal, and glass. Never use it to clean cloth seats!
7. Clean your seats depending on the fabric. For leather, use a specialised leather cleaner, and avoid using wax, silicone, or oil-based products. Once dry, condition with a water-based pH neutral conditioner to prevent cracking. For fabric upholstery, use carpet cleaner. You can check your car's manual for approved cleaners.
8. As a finishing touch, spray the interior with air freshener!
   

Need professional help in this area? Your auto mechanic Billings may be able to provide a thorough detailing.

April Service Special: $24.95 Oil Change Billings

Cleaning is great, but it's not the only thing you can (or should) do to care for your car this month.

Schedule a routine vehicle checkup to make sure everything's A-okay under the hood. Regular maintenance is key to a long and happy life for your vehicle.

We've also got some awesome service specials going on during the month of April. Our favorite: a $24.95 oil change Billings. It even comes with a free multi-point inspection, car wash, and vacuum!*

So go ahead -- skimp a little on the cleaning, and let us do it for you. Book your $24.95 oil change today!

*Up to five quarts of oil. Expires 4/30/16.