Increase the Value of your Car

Recent motor trade research has shown that cleaning, valeting and making minor cosmetic repairs to your car before you sell it can really boost the value of your car - to the tune of several hundred pounds!

Checklist

You'll need:

• Car Shampoo
• Glass Cleaner
• Car Polish Cloths
• Sponge
• Pressure Washer
• Upholstery Cleaner
• Alloy Wheel Cleaner
• Bucket of Hot Water
• Supply of Clean Water
• Chamois Leather
• Disposable Gloves
• Plastic Trim Restorer

Interior Valeting

Step 1: Clean Your Car

Clean the inside of your car thoroughly, emptying out any rubbish, and remove loose car mats to clean or replace them. Once everything's cleared out, vacuum the interior upholstery.

Step 2: Clean Upholstery

Use a fabric or upholstery cleaner to remove stubborn marks, or invest in new car seat covers if the seats have seen better days!

Step 3: Clean Plastic Trim

Clean all plastic trim parts - spray the cleaner onto a cloth to stop it from getting everywhere.

Exterior Cleaning

Step 1: Wash Your Car

Rinse the dirt off your car with a hose or pressure washer, then mix some car shampoo into a bucket of hot water and sponge the car down, starting on your car roof so the dirty water moves down towards the ground.

Step 2: Rinse

Rinse the car shampoo and repeat if necessary, then dry with a chamois leather.

Step 3: Clean Glass

Use a glass cleaner to clean the windows - inside and out.

Step 4: Clean Wheels

Clean the wheels, using an alloy wheel cleaner if applicable. Or invest in some new wheel trims for your car for an instant makeover!

Step 5: Polish Tyres

If the tyres look a bit scruffy, special tyre polish removes brake dust and grime from the sidewalls. Keep it off the tread.

Repairing Minor Scratches and Improving Paintwork

Step 1: Remove Scratches

Buy a chip stick, choosing the colour that most closely matches your car. Work the chip stick into any scratches and wipe off excess with a clean cloth. Keep reapplying until you can't see the scratches anymore.

Step 2: Polish Paintwork

Finish by polishing your paintwork - use a paint-restoring or 'cutting' car polish if the old paint has faded. Use a small amount at a time and work it in with a soft, lint-free cloth over a small area, then move onto the next spot.

When your car is completely covered in polish, take another dry cloth and wipe it off, rubbing it in to the paintwork as you do until your car is squeaky clean and shining.