Children are a blessing, but keeping your vehicle clean when you have little ones can be challenging. Children like to touch and play with everything in the car, and they also bring dirty items into the vehicle that need to be cleaned up. The reality is children explore and, in the process, end up causing some form of damage to the interior of your car, in most cases. Not only is it a sight for sore eyes, but it actually could end up costing you money to repair or ultimately affect the valuation of your car when you're looking to sell.
Here are a few tips you can follow to ensure you limit the interior strain kids may have on your vehicle.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Only allow your kids to play with the approved toys in the car, and make sure you have a designated area for them.
Ensure children do not eat or drink in the vehicle as it may cause stains on the seats and carpeting.
Use seat covers when transporting young ones that will protect against stains from spills. You can also look into getting seat cover harnesses that keep toddlers secure during driving time while protecting your interior at the same time. This is especially useful if they are still learning how to buckle themselves up without assistance from an adult.
Be aware of where your child's feet are placed while seated, so they don't accidentally kick items causing damage or leaving dirt marks all over their shoes. This may also help reduce the number of times they kick the back of your seat.
Consider Hydrophobic Products
Investing in hydrophobic products is a great way to keep your car interior protected against those pesky liquids. Hydrophobic products are those which repel water and fluids. This means that any spills from feeding time, juice boxes or even kids throwing drinks at each other on a long road trip will be much easier to clean up as the liquid is quickly repelled by the hydrophobicity product you've applied instead of being absorbed into your seats and carpets. This is fantastic news for parents who are constantly having to clean up after their little ones!
To ensure the best results from hydrophobic products, you should have them applied professionally by a car detailing expert in your area or look into purchasing a spray that will protect your vehicle against spills and stains.
Maintain A Rigorous Cleaning Schedule
It's crucial to establish a schedule of how often you plan on cleaning your car. For example, if you have kids, it is important to clean your car's interior twice as often as you wash and vacuum your home.
This doesn't mean you should spend hours trying to scrub and wipe every inch of the interior, but rather ensure each week you give it a quick clean with antibacterial wipes or sponges.
Be sure you remove any crumbs from seat pockets and underneath seats, so your little ones don't accidentally use them as a snack tray while driving around the neighborhood! There is nothing worse than having to clean up after finding chocolate chip cookies throughout your car while on a road trip with friends or family.
Last tip, the real key to success when keeping the interior of your car free from toddler terror is wet wipes in the glove compartment. A quick wipe over the affected area and bobs your uncle. When you're ready to sell, check out edmunds car value calculator, and you'll thank yourself for taking care of the interior when you get more for your car.
In conclusion, if you have children and want to keep your car in good condition for a long time, you must stay on top of it and plan well. It's hard work, but it's worth it.
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