Car detailing after a road trip- sure, but why? A road trip is a great adventure that many of us enjoy. We buy or rent cars made for road trips to travel in comfort. But have you felt the crash after returning from a road trip? Your vehicle endures the rigours of a long ride and needs a complete car detailing of both the exterior and interior.
Your car probably looks like it has just lost a fight with snacks and litter inside the cabin. Coffee spills, snack wrappers, waste bags, and food debris are inevitable inside the car. The odour inside the cabin can linger for a while. The exterior probably looks battle-worn due to weather and long exposure to the elements. Other post-trip damage is often invisible at first glance.
Road trips wear a car out faster than city driving. Delaying car detailing can compound the wear and tear and affect the vehicle’s resale value.
This blog will explain why car detailing is important after a road trip and outline the right approach.
Deal with the Interior Crime Scene First
We sit inside the car, and the hygiene of the interior affects both our mood and health. Food crumbs and chips in the seat creases are a challenge. You can use a vacuum and inevitably push them deeper into the creases. Melted chocolate that has set into the fabric of the seats leaves a stain. Beverage spills, especially if children are involved, leave a tough stain.
The “road trip cuisine” attracts ants, bugs, and unpleasant odours. The removal of these pests and odours will need car detailing to eliminate them. Odour removal is an add-on service of car detailing that eliminates odour at its source. When stains are ignored, they set into the upholstery. Dairy and sugar leave stains that are hard to remove. Prioritising vacuuming should be the first step when detailing the interior.
Cup holders take a beating after road trips. Sticky beverage residues on cup holders emanate a funky odour. Interior car detailing can make the whole car feel cleaner instantly.
Mud, sand, and salt on the floor mats are the next task. Ignoring the mats can ruin the underlying carpet, making it necessary to clean the floor mats after a long road trip.
Smells Before Shine: Fix the Odour Situation
A shiny, clean car can still be a turn-off if it smells musty. Food debris is the primary suspect of lingering odours in the car. Sweaty, old clothes can leave lingering odours in the upholstery that persist in the cabin. Travelling with pets can be challenging and leaves dander, fur stains, and odour in the car. When pet hair is combined with heat, it can be a smelly combo. A regular vacuuming cannot eliminate these odours. Spilt drinks are another culprit. An air freshener can mask the odour for some time, but it is not a long-term solution.
Odours can penetrate the AC vents and keep circulating in the interior of the car. Moisture encourages the growth of mould and bacteria in the AC vents. It builds up after long drives, and switching the AC on after a road trip can revive the smell. Car detailing cleans the vents and cabin air filters, removing the funky odours from their source.
Seats: The Real Casualties of Long Drives
Seats are most impacted after trips. They absorb the body sweat and beverage spills. Sitting on the car seats for long periods allows sweat to be absorbed into the fabric or leather of the seat. It will also allow body oils to penetrate the fabric and darken the leather or fabric. This attracts dirt that will further degrade the seats.
The seatbelts are often overlooked, but they will also hold sweat, sunscreen, and grime. Dirty seatbelts can develop odours in warm conditions. Car detailing helps clean these often-overlooked interior components.
Windows & Windshield: Remove the Road Film
Body oils and plastic vapours cause film buildup on the windows. After road trips, the hazy windows are not a vibe but residue! Cleaning them requires professional-grade products that are used in car detailing. Bug splatter becomes permanent art if left too long on the windshield. Heat bonds the splatter to the clear coat and becomes a paint nightmare. Car detailing removes these contaminants before they etch into the glass or paint.
If you are driving your car at night after a road trip and oncoming headlights resemble a disco ball, it’s time for car detailing!
The Trunk: Where Road Trips Go to Die
Trunks can be a hotbed of mysterious odours. Wet clothes, beach towels, hiking gear and more left in the trunk can leave lingering odours. These can also increase the risk of mould and mildew growth in the trunk.
Sand, dirt and debris left in the trunk can spread to the cabin over time. When vacuuming the trunk, it is important to vacuum under the trunk liners.
The trunk is often where road-trip memories quietly rot. So, take the car for car detailing before the rot sets in.
Start With the Exterior Wash- But Not the Way You Think
Most people think hosing the car down after a road trip is the best way to undo the damage of a road trip. But this is a common misconception. It actually locks in the damage of the road trip. A hose-down may remove visible residue on the exterior. But the bug splatter, tar and tree sap that remain on the paint surface are acidic residues that eat into the clear coat. It will dim the paint and tarnish it if left untreated.
Road grime bonds harder to your car on road trips. The extended exposure to high speeds, constant airflow, and diverse contaminants bakes them on the clear coat. These particles become deeply embedded in the paint’s clear coat. The UV exposure intensifies the bond. This bond is more tenacious on road trips than city driving.
Brake dust builds up after long drives on wheels and tires. Driving on different terrains causes salt, mud, and grime to adhere to the wheels and affect their finish. The headlights and taillights accumulate bug residue and become cloudy. These lights can oxidise after long road trips. Car detailing packages include headlight and taillight cleaning that restores them.
Under the Hood: The Forgotten Post-Trip Check
A light cleaning after a road trip helps longevity. Fluid spills and residue, such as washer fluid, oil mist, and coolant traces under the hood, should be lightly cleaned. This helps spot minor issues early on and prevents major repairs later.
What to Fix First
At Colibri Car Wrap and Detailing, we follow this order of cleaning:
- Interior vacuum and trash removal is the first line of action
- Odour source elimination, because smell is the first thing you notice when you get in a car
- Seats and high-touch surfaces are cleaned and restored.
- Windshield and windows receive proper treatment to remove the film on them
- Floor mats bear testimony to the travel, and car detailing will ensure proper cleaning
- Exterior detailing will clean the exterior and protect it.
- Wheels and tires bear a battle-worn look after trips. Car detailing restores its finish.
Your Car Got You There – Now Get It’s Back
Your car offers you a comfortable travel experience. Car detailing after a trip is a way to show gratitude and keep it in shape for future adventures. It is a way to reset your vehicle.
Come experience the best way to reset your vehicle at Colibri Car Wrap and Detailing.
