Bring out the best in your used car

It doesn't help that we're not a nation of car cleaners either. According to a recent survey, 50 percent of us only clean our car's interior once a year, and eight percent of us never even bother with such car cleaning.

KEEPING YOUR CAR IN TRIM

But cleaning the inside and outside of your car is essential to ensure that your car remains roadworthy and free from faults. It will also keep the value of your car high and so ripe for resale should you decide to change or upgrade to a new car.

There are a few simple things you can do to make sure your used car remains in great condition.

With regards to the interior, check round the entire cabin to see that your car is free from dampness brought in by shoes and clothing. If you discover a wet patch where water couldn't have got in, you may have a leak. Contact your dealer to book an inspection.

Take out the car's mats, wash them down and leave them to dry. Vacuum and if necessary shampoo the carpets, trim and seats. Always make sure that all washed elements are fully dried.

KEEPING YOUR CAR CLEAN

With the exterior, always use car shampoo and a sponge to wash your car, beginning at the top and moving down over the bodywork. Companies such as Autoglym and Mer offer an extensive range of car cleaning products.

Check for car damage caused by stone chipping, paying particular attention to the bonnet. Chipping may have been missed during the winter months thanks to dirt hiding them from view. Without due attention these may begin to rust. Small rust spots can be tackled using a touch-up kit such as Farcla's Scratch and Stone Chip Removal Kit but any major problems should be dealt with by a specialist.

Give your car a polish once it's fully dry. This brings back a shine to your motor and perhaps more importantly offers protection for the coming months.

Deal with faded plastic trim using products such as Simoniz Back to Black to bring the shine back to your black bumpers and tyres.

Clean your alloys thoroughly to avoid long-term damage with cleaners such as Meguiars Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner.

Use a hose to blast off salt-caked grime that might have accumulated on the underside of your car and in wheel arches. Check for corrosion or potential problems with the underbody's sealant and have any issues fixed as soon as possible by a professional.

Book your car in for a 'mini-service' where your dealer can check fluids, tyre tread depth levels and brake performance. It's better to pay a small fee now and have peace of mind rather than pay a potentially much steeper price later on if something should go wrong.