In photos: Easy steps to make any car ready to impress on a date
Valentine’s Day is around the corner. If you’re venturing on a first date, don’t despair. There’s plenty to do to make a great first impression. But don’t forget about your car – it deserves just as much attention. Here are 10 tips to get your wheels first-date ready for the big day.
Wax the exterior: Remove unsightly salt stains, caked-on mud and grime from your car. No date wants to get dirty stepping inside the cabin. Use a touchless car wash or a professional detailer like. If you’re tight on time, do it yourself with Simoniz Waterless Wash & Wax – no scrubbing required. Just spray and wipe.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Polish tires: Tires are like jewelry – they can make or break an outfit. Clean your tires and rims with proper products such as Armor All Outlast Tire Glaze, Mothers Back-to-Black Tire Shine, or Autoglym Instant Tyre Dressing. They’ll keep tires looking new, help prevent cracking or discolouring and add serious bling bling to your ride.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Vacuum the interior: Vacuum the entire cabin. Remove all floor mats so you can vacuum under them, too. Use attachments to get deep into crevices of the seats, safety belts, and between the doors and seats to remove old crumbs and loose dirt. Get rid of annoying dog hair with duct tape – it works like a charm.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Clean your leather: Jeans and dirt transfer easily onto leather, especially light-coloured surfaces such as beige or tan. Treat your leather properly to keep it soft and supple. Use leather cleaning products for car interiors such as Sonax Leather Foam or Mothers Leather Cream. Apply cleaner onto a terry cloth towel and scrub gently, getting into the grain to remove dirt. Never use a hard brush because it’ll damage the leather.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Dust and disinfect: In a car, bacteria spreads fast. So, wipe down the dashboard, steering wheel, door panels, and cup holders. Use a soft, damp cloth with a mix of mild soap and water or wipes, like Wonder Works’ Tub o’ Towels or Armor All Orange Cleaning Wipes, which have degreasers that cut through dirt and disinfect the cabin simultaneously. Plus, the orange scent is great.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Ditch the garbage and get organized: Dump any old water bottles, empty coffee cups, and half-eaten fast-food containers in your car. Get an organizer like the GloveBox Back Seat Organizer, which includes a hook for your purse, a snowbrush holder, and a secret side compartment for hiding valuables such as a wallet or cell phone. Available exclusively at Canadian Tire for $49.
Get rid of that pesky smell: You want your car to smell as good as you do on a first date. There are numerous car fresheners on the market such as Perk, Little Tree, or Febreze. But you can also get creative, save some cash, and mix your own scent. Place a few drops of lavender or vanilla oil onto cotton balls and hide them in your vehicle to keep the cabin smelling fresh for weeks.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Fill up the tank: Make sure your car is roadworthy before a date. Take it to the mechanic for a once over. Make sure the battery has enough juice. And don’t forget to fill up the tank. You’ll never get a second date if you’re stranded on the side of the road.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Add personality: Customize your ride. On the exterior, you can get funky Strobe Postz strobe lights at Sears or Walmart for $24.97. Inside, StyleTech Adhesive Wrap lets you add carbon fibre, red, or blue film around the gear shifter, door handles, or navigation screen to add personality.
Don’t forget the details: Little details leave big impressions on a date. Make sure there’s a box of tissue, water bottles, gum and mints at your fingertips in the cabin of your car. It’ll make your date feel right at home and go a long way in impressing them.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail