Winter is finally behind us, and spring has sprung (okay… we’re a little late since summer is already upon us)! However, when you’re doing your RV spring cleaning, one thing you shouldn’t forget (though it’s easy to overlook) is your tow vehicle or towed car. If you tow a car with your motorhome or have a travel trailer that you tow behind a vehicle, here are some spring car cleaning tips to keep either one in top shape.
Car Spring Cleaning Tips
Spring cleaning your car is an additional task that many RVers have on their to-do lists. Not only do you need to spring clean your RV, but you also need to perform a thorough cleaning of your tow vehicle or towed car. This is actually an important task, and one we don’t take lightly, which is probably why our old 2003 Honda CR-V still looked pretty sharp when we sold it after more than 20 years of excellent service.
This is especially important if you live in an area where winter months are particularly harsh and road salt is a significant issue. Spring cleaning your car’s exterior and interior (or getting your car detailed professionally) is a task that should not be neglected. Here are some tips based on our years of experience with car spring cleaning.
Wash Your Car
Like our RV, we prefer hand-washing our other vehicles as well. In our opinion, driving a car or truck through a car wash just doesn’t do the same job. Begin by thoroughly rinsing the vehicle down, removing as much excess dirt, sand, grime, and salt as possible from the paint surface. The key here is to remove anything that might scratch the vehicle when you begin washing it by hand.
Washing your RV can be fun for the whole family. But please make sure you’re being respectful of your neighbors, too!
After rinsing your car, lather up one area, wash it thoroughly, and then rinse it well. Preventing the soap from drying on the paint is key. Just like on your RV, starting from the top is the best approach. If you leave the roof for last, you’ll wash all that dirt down onto your freshly cleaned windows, hood, doors, fenders, and so on.
We’re careful about the cleaning products we use on both our RV and our vehicles. We’ve found our favorites over the years and continue to use them with excellent results. Meguiar's Gold Class is our favorite car wash. Despite being gentle on paint, it makes great suds that dissolve road grime really well. It also contains a conditioner and doesn’t remove the wax from your car’s finish.
- LONG-LASTING RADIANT LOOK: Say goodbye to dull and faded paint and hello to the ultra-rich paint conditioners; Meguiar's Gold Class foam car wash...
- THE PERFECT PROFESSIONAL CLEAN: Experience the ultimate clean with this eco friendly car wash soap for foam cannons; its biodegradable formula forms...
We also like to use a scratch-free microfiber wash mitt because it holds a lot of water and soap, allowing you to drench your car in thick cleansing foam.
- PREMIUM MICROFIBER WASH MITT (MIC493) – Ultra-soft chenille microfiber car wash mitt lifts and traps dirt for a scratch-free, swirl-free wash...
- SAFE ON ALL SURFACES – Gentle fibers in this Chemical Guys wash mitt protect paint, glass, chrome, and plastic while holding plenty of suds for...
When washing your car, be sure to thoroughly clean your windshield wipers as well. Remove any built-up debris in the area of the wipers and give the wiper blades a good cleaning. Not only will your wipers last longer, but they’ll work better and be less likely to hold onto a stone or other debris that could scratch the glass.
Dry Things Completely
Before proceeding with the spring cleaning process, ensure everything is dry to prevent water spots and streaks from forming. Some people like using a squeegee with a silicone blade as part of this process, and we use one on our RV, too. They do a good job of removing about 90% of any standing water on the surface, and they’re far more effective than a microfiber cloth.
- NEW Y-Bar edge removes over 90% of standing water
- 15 Times less friction than terrycloth towels
For drying more completely (and in smaller areas), we swear by our favorite reusable shammy cloths. The way these dry is almost unbelievable — the absorbency is that good. They’re made of a soft, scratch-free material, and as long as you take good care of them, they’ll last for years. When you’re finished drying the vehicle, simply wring it out and store it in the included storage case until you need it again.
- EXCELLENT ABSORBENCY — MIGHTY CLEANER car drying towel is the ultimate tool to dry your sweet ride after a wash and give it the diamond shine every...
- HIGH-GRADE MATERIALS — Our chamois towel for car care is made of ultra-soft, thick, and lint-free material that provides a smooth glide across the...
Wax On, Wax Off
Although you, of course, won’t wax your vehicle every time you wash it, we believe that waxing is an essential part of a thorough spring cleaning process. It makes everything shine and protects the paint from the elements over time. You’ll want to use a high-quality wax that doesn’t require lots of time and elbow grease. Waxing a car used to be a process that required dedicating an afternoon, but not anymore.
Our favorite, Meguiar's Ultimate Liquid Wax , is incredibly easy to apply and remove. It does a fantastic job, and the shine and protection are long-lasting. You can use it in full sun, but we try to apply it in the shade when possible. It comes with its own sponge applicator, which you can use to spread it on, wait for a short time, and wipe it away. It glides on and off with minimal effort (hooray!).
Because our old Mountain Aire was so large, we were particularly interested in having a wax that didn’t take a lot of effort to apply and remove. Meguiar’s to the rescue!
While Meguiar’s has consistently created better and better waxes over time, this one has been our favorite for years now. It’s clear-coat safe, and the water beading is excellent. Did we mention how easy it is to apply and remove?! If you decide to try it, let us know if you love it as much as we do.
- IMPROVED FORMULA: Experience the ultimate in automotive wax with Meguiar's Ultimate Liquid Wax. Our formula takes car care to the next level...
- EASY TO USE WAX: Applying our liquid wax is a breeze, thanks to its easy spread-on and wipe-off application. Anyone can achieve professional results...
Clean the Glass Till It Sparkles
Your windshield and all of the windows around your car need to be cleaned, inside and out. For the outside, we recommend a glass cleaner called Invisible Glass with Rain Repellent (it’s also perfectly fine to use it on the inside). Invisible Glass is an excellent cleaner and a rain repellent in one, providing both benefits in a single step.
With Invisible Glass and a clean microfiber cloth, you’ll have your vehicle’s windows sparkling clean in no time!
Invisible Glass effectively cleans off bugs, bird droppings, built-up debris, and road grime. As a bonus, it’ll also help to prevent rain, ice, and frost build-up, since it allows water to bead right off your windshield.
- 2-IN-1 GLASS CLEANER AND RAIN REPELLENT: Cleans exterior windshields and windows; leaves a smooth water-repelling surface that helps rain, sleet, and...
- IMPROVES WET WEATHER VISIBILITY: Helps improve driver response time in rain by up to twenty-five percent; supports clearer sightlines during wet...
PRO TIP: If you have sap, road tar, or other difficult-to-clean substances on your windshield, you may need to resort to a stronger approach. See our post on how to super-clean your windshield for details.
Clean and Protect the Tires
Car spring cleaning includes your tires! It’s vital to remove the dirt, salt, and road grime from the rubber, but it’s also essential to apply a protectant to it. Tires age and can dry out from sun exposure. Treating them with a good protectant extends their life, so it’s well worth the effort.
We use Aerospace 303 Automotive Protectant on both our RV and car/truck tires because it provides UV protection AND just the right amount of shine (as in not too much). Originally engineered for aerospace and aviation applications, this product treats and protects rubber, vinyl, and plastic while also providing excellent UV protection.
While it’s a great product for protecting your dashboard and other interior plastic/vinyl parts from fading, be cautious about using it on your steering wheel, as it may make it slippery. It’s also excellent for treating your wiper blades, by the way.
- ULTIMATE PROTECTION: 303 automotive protectant spray shields against UV ray damage to prevent fading and cracking, while also repelling dust, dirt...
- NOT GREASY: This car protectant spray dries to a smooth, matte finish with no oily or greasy residue left behind making it a great addition to any car...
Detail the Interior
Finally, spring cleaning also involves detailing the interior. Start by removing your floor mats so that you can vacuum them thoroughly. For vacuuming floor mats and carpets, you can use a local commercial vacuum (such as one found at a DIY car wash) or your RV vacuum. If you don’t have one you like, check out our post on the best RV vacuums. Carpeted floormats can be shampooed, while rubber ones can be scrubbed and/or power-washed.
Use a damp microfiber cloth to clean all of the leather, vinyl, and plastic areas of the car’s interior. Clean your center console, dust the vents, and even clean out and reorganize your glove compartment. Dump any trash and, if you haven’t done so in a while, replace your cabin air filter.
If you have leather seats, treat them with a good protectant (such as 303 Leather 3-In-1 Complete Care) to keep the leather in good condition:
- 303 Automotive 3 in 1 Leather Complete Care is made in the U. S. A. and safely cleans, conditions and restores finished leather & vinyl to keep it...
- Safe for any finished leather or vinyl surface such as finished leather seats, furniture upholstery, saddlery, footwear, coats, furniture, handbags...
Consider finishing off your car interior spring cleaning by hanging a nice new air freshener.
- Fresh, Long-Lasting Scent – Enjoy a clean, refreshing fragrance that keeps your space smelling great.
- Perfect for Small Spaces – Ideal for RVs, campers, cars, homes, and offices.
If your car gets dusty or covered with pollen between washes, see our post on the California Duster. It’s perfect for bringing the shine back between washes.
- The Original California Car Duster standard model has an easy to use plastic handle and wax treated cotton mop. The California Car Duster signature...
- The wax treated cotton mop quickly and easily removes dust without scratching. Gently sweep the car duster across your vehicle’s surface to lift and...
Now that your car is nice and clean, you can check out our RV spring cleaning routine in the following video:
And that’s it! You and your vehicle are all ready for summer travels! Enjoy!
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