Top 5 tips to spring clean your vehicles
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Give your vehicle a good clean after a wet winter. Photos: Unsplash
Spring is the perfect time to give your car, caravan or trailer some attention, especially after months of wet weather, road grime, and muddy trips.
Plus, a good spring clean can do more than make your vehicle look better; it can also help protect its value and spot small problems before they become expensive ones.
Here are five things every Kiwi vehicle owner should put on their spring-cleaning list.
1. Give the outside a proper clean
A quick trip through the car wash might remove the obvious dirt, but spring is a good time for a more thorough clean.
Wash the bodywork, wheels and wheel arches, paying particular attention to areas where mud, road salt and grime can build up. If you've been driving on gravel roads or around beaches, make sure the underside of the vehicle gets a good rinse too.
For caravans and trailers, clean around the chassis, drawbar, jockey wheel and underneath the body. If your caravan has been stored for winter, check the roof and seals for dirt, moss or signs of water getting in.
Once everything is clean, inspect the paintwork for stone chips, scratches or areas of corrosion.
Don’t forget the interior of the car too.
2. Don't forget the interior
Spring cleaning is also a chance to get rid of the accumulated rubbish and dirt that can build up over winter.
Remove the floor mats and give them a thorough clean. Vacuum underneath the seats and around the boot or cargo area, and wipe down the dashboard and other hard surfaces.
For caravans, empty cupboards and storage areas and check for dampness, mould or musty smells. Clean the fridge, kitchen surfaces and bathroom, and wash or air bedding and soft furnishings.
Don't forget trailers either. If you use one for gardening, building or transporting equipment, clean out accumulated dirt and debris and check that nothing has been left loose.
Clean and check your tyres.
3. Check the tyres – including the spare
Tyres are easy to overlook, but spring is a good time to check them before the warmer months bring more road trips.
Check the tread depth, look for cracks or damage and make sure the pressures are correct. Remember that the recommended pressure may be different for a heavily loaded vehicle, caravan or trailer.
And don't forget the spare. A flat or damaged spare isn't much use when you're sitting beside the road.
For caravans and trailers, inspect the tyres carefully for signs of cracking or uneven wear. If they spend long periods sitting in one place, they can deteriorate even when they haven't travelled many kilometres.
Don’t forget to check your caravan or trailer.
4. Check the bits that make your vehicle safe
A spring clean shouldn't just be about appearance; instead check your lights, indicators, brake lights, reversing lights and number plate lights. Test the windscreen wipers and top up the windscreen washer fluid.
For caravans and trailers, pay particular attention to the tow hitch, safety chains, electrical connections, brakes and coupling mechanism. Make sure everything is secure and working correctly before heading away.
It's also worth checking your car's engine oil, coolant and other fluids, following the manufacturer's recommendations.
Adjust your side mirrors if towing a caravan.
5. Get ready for the Kiwi road-trip season
Once everything is clean and checked, prepare your vehicle for the months ahead.
Clean and organise your emergency equipment, check your first-aid kit and make sure you have a warning triangle, torch and basic tools if required. If you're towing, check that your towing mirrors are correctly adjusted and that your caravan or trailer is properly loaded.
Spring is also a good time to check your Warrant of Fitness, registration and insurance details, particularly if the vehicle hasn't been used much over winter.
A few hours spent cleaning and checking your vehicle now can help prevent unwanted surprises when you're heading off for a summer holiday.
Whether it's your daily driver, weekend car, caravan or trailer, spring cleaning isn't just about making it look good – it's about making sure it's ready for the Kiwi summer ahead.
