A good spring clean removes winter's salt and grime from the places that rust, resets the paint with fresh protection, dries out a damp cabin and finishes with the safety checks that slipped during the dark months. The order matters: work from the dirtiest, lowest areas upwards outside, then from the top down inside. Use the checklist below over a dry weekend in March or April, or hand the list to a valeter and tick it off as they go.
Exterior: what to do first?
- Underside and arches. Rinse thoroughly with a hose or pressure washer on a wide fan, aiming into the arches, along the sills and behind the bumpers. This is where winter salt sits.
- Wheels and tyres. Clean each wheel inside and out with a non acidic wheel cleaner and soft brushes, then the tyre walls. Our guide on cleaning alloy wheels and removing brake dust goes into detail.
- Pre wash. Snow foam or a traffic film remover on the lower panels softens road film so you are not rubbing grit into the paint.
- Door shuts, fuel flap and boot sills. Winter grime hides here and transfers to clothes.
Exterior: how do you reset the paint?
- Contact wash top down with the two bucket method and a clean wash mitt.
- Iron fallout remover on the lower panels and rear, where brake dust embeds over winter. It turns purple as it works.
- Tar remover on spots behind the wheels.
- Clay the paint with plenty of lubricant if it still feels rough.
- Dry with a large, soft towel.
- Protect with a fresh coat of wax or sealant. Spring brings pollen, sap and bird droppings, and protected paint lets them rinse off before they mark it.
- Dress the trim and rubber seals, which dry out after months of frost and salt.
Interior: what does a spring clean cover?
- Empty everything. Door pockets, boot, under the seats, the spare wheel well.
- Dry out the carpets. Lift mats and feel the carpet underneath, especially in the front footwells. Damp carpet after winter is common and leads to smells and mould if ignored.
- Vacuum top down, from the headliner and seats to the floor, using a brush attachment on vents and seams.
- Shampoo or steam marked seats and carpets. Salt tide marks from boots usually lift with a dedicated carpet cleaner and warm water.
- Wipe hard surfaces with an interior cleaner, then a non greasy protectant on the dashboard.
- Clean the inside glass to remove winter's misting film.
- Swap the mats. Clean and store rubber winter mats, refit carpet ones.
What about pollen and allergies in spring?
The Met Office says tree pollen is typically released from late March to mid May, followed by grass pollen from mid May into July. That overlaps neatly with spring cleaning season. A thorough vacuum of the carpets and seats, a wipe of the vents and dashboard, and a new cabin filter if it is due all help reduce what circulates in the car. Pollen can aggravate allergies and asthma; see a GP for symptoms. For the full seasonal routine, read our pollen season car care tips.
Which safety checks belong in a spring clean?
The Highway Code's vehicle maintenance annex says lights, indicators, reflectors and number plates must be kept clean and clear, and windscreens and windows must be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision. It also sets a minimum tread depth for cars of 1.6 mm across the central three quarters of the tread, and recommends checking tyre pressures weekly when the tyres are cold.
- Check every bulb, inside and out.
- Inspect tyres for tread, cuts and bulges, and set pressures.
- Replace wiper blades that smeared over winter.
- Swap winter screenwash for a summer mix that tackles insects.
- Check oil, coolant and brake fluid levels.
- Look over the paint for stone chips and touch them in before they rust.
Should you do it yourself or book a valet?
A thorough spring clean of a family car takes most of a day when done properly. If time is short, split it: do the safety checks and boot clear out yourself, and book the heavy work. Our full interior and exterior valet starts from £80 at your home or workplace, and an exterior wash starts from £30. If the paint needs more than a wash and wax, premium detailing with paint correction and protection starts from £150.
Sources
- GOV.UK: The Highway Code, annex 6 vehicle maintenance, safety and security
- Met Office: Pollen, what are the different types?
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