Car cosmetics: what is it and what is it for, and what does your car really need?
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26/09/2023
Agree, it's nice when the car is well-maintained, the body shines, the glass is free of cracks, and the interior is tidy and clean. After all, it is not only about a pleasant and comfortable ride, but also about a longer service life of interior materials.
Now the market is full of various auto chemicals and auto cosmetics for the care of individual parts of the car. You can wash the body with something, another tool is intended for cleaning the leather interior, another one for polishing the torpedo, and the variety of these tools is simply amazing. But what is really necessary and what is just a waste of money?
Means for plastic interior elements
Cleaners and shampoos for the leather salon
Means for the car body
Among the entire range of products, the most common are shampoos and polishing agents, and they must also be used correctly, so that after a certain time you are not surprised that new traces of corrosion have appeared.
Body wash shampoos
If you are not a fan of car washes and prefer to wash your car at home, especially if you have a high-pressure washer for this, then you should buy a body shampoo. The peculiarity of these specialized means is that they contain softeners that do not accelerate or cause the formation of corrosion.
So, if you have a high-pressure washer, you should choose contactless car wash shampoo for it. If you wash the car by hand, then you should also choose the appropriate shampoo - for manual washing, it is applied to the body with a sponge. After applying any of these products, they must be washed off after 1-5 minutes, but no later. The color and smell of the shampoo do not play a fundamental role, so you can choose at your own discretion.
How to polish a car?
The polish performs several functions at once - it covers small scratches, refreshes the color of the car, makes small traces of corrosion and stains on chrome elements less noticeable, and the body shines. There are polishes for LFP, for chrome elements, for glass and for tires. You can buy them in the form of liquid, cream, paste and aerosol.
Wax polishes are cheaper, give a "deep" shine to the car, but the effect lasts for 2-3 washes. Synthetic means are a little more expensive, but their effect lasts longer.
Tire inks
Such products are applied to the side surface of tires to restore the deep black color, form a protective film and further reduce pollution. Such products, according to manufacturers' claims, make it possible to extend the service life of tires and protect them from premature/formation of small cracks, and thanks to the wax that is part of the products, tires do not dry out so quickly under the influence of sunlight. While such inks are only gaining popularity among car owners.
Means for the interior of the car
Depending on the type of surfaces, cleaning agents and their protection are chosen. The interior of the car can be made of:
- structured or glossy plastic;
- natural leather or its substitute;
- textiles.
Means for plastic interior elements
Each of us noticed how a significant layer of dust quickly formed on the plastic elements of the cabin. This is due to the fact that plastic accumulates a statistical charge. Therefore, for the care of such elements, it is worth using products with an antistatic effect. Also, under the influence of ultraviolet rays, plastic can lose color over time, and now car cosmetics manufacturers even offer polishing agents for black plastic that help restore its condition.
Cleaners and shampoos for the leather salon
If the interior leather upholstery has turned from matte to glossy, it means it's time to clean it. For this, you can use special cleaners that will carefully remove dirt and not damage the leather interior itself. Cleansing once a year is enough, and the products are generally suitable for light and dark skin.
Caring for interior textiles
Unfortunately, fabric gets dirty much faster than leather, and it also absorbs foreign odors, such as cigarette smoke. Therefore, you will have to clean the seats more often. For this, you can use special means for dry interior cleaning - you need to sprinkle them on the fabric, wait a little and remove it with a vacuum cleaner or rag. Deodorants also work in the same way, they will be useful for those who smoke in the car interior.
Comp cleaners
These are the means that no motorist can do without, because if you can order dry cleaning of the interior and not waste your precious time on it, then in the city you have to wash the glass often. And that's why manufacturers are constantly trying to improve their products. Modern windshield wipers form a protective film that ensures the cleanliness of surfaces for a longer time, there are even products with an anti-rain effect.
Separately, it is worth mentioning insect and anti-fog cleaners, because although these are not essential tools, they can make life much easier at certain times of the year.
How to use car cosmetics correctly?
Although all these tools are designed to bring beauty to the interior and exterior of the car, certain rules should be followed here too, so that good intentions do not lead to damage to parts.
- Always carefully study the instructions and recommendations from the manufacturer.
- It is necessary to apply the product strictly for the time specified in the instructions and not to overdo it longer than specified.
- Use products as intended, for example, textile cleaning products should not be used on the skin.