Cleaning Your Car For Resale

July 17, 2024

Cleaning your car for resale may be the most crucial action you can take to help sell your used vehicle. Addressing any mechanical issues is a close second. However, rather than fixing the issues, you can factor the cost of repairs into your asking price. The bottom line is that a dirty car is a turnoff. It can affect the price and even turn away potential buyers.

Cleanliness is Key

First impressions matter, so thoroughly clean your car inside and out. Wash and wax the exterior, vacuum and wipe the interior, and remove personal belongings. Be sure to clean under the seats and floor mats. Three-month-old French fries can be a deal breaker,

Before You Start: Always test our cleaning products on an inconspicuous area before beginning any cleaning project.

Cleaning Your Car For Resale

Bar Keepers Friend (BKF) can clean many parts of a car, including wheels, floor mats, headlights, and auto glass. Here are a few ideas to help you get the most out of your resale.

Tires and Wheels

Use a damp cloth or hose to remove loose dirt, then mix a small amount of powdered cleanser with water to make a paste in a glass or steel bowl. Spread the paste with a sponge and let it sit for one minute before wiping it clean. Katelyn Fagan of What’s Up Fagans? used MORE Spray + Foam to clean the chrome rims of their vehicle. You can watch her tutorial here:

Floor mats

Shake off dirt, wet the mats with a hose, and squeeze on some soft cleanser. Use a brush to spread the cleanser, scrub it in, and let it sit for about a minute. Rinse the mats off and dry them with a soft towel. My good friend Chris sent me a text with a photo of the mats of his truck on the driveway as he was cleaning them. In the foreground was a bottle of Bar Keeps Friend Soft Cleanser. In the text, he said,

“Hey, I’m trying that stuff you always talk about, Bar Keepers Friend.” I texted back, saying, “Let me know how it works.” He texted back a photo of the cleaned mats, saying, “These mats haven’t looked this good since they were new!”

Headlights 

You know those foggy headlights? Sure, you do, but do you know how to clean them? If you’ve tried glass cleaners, you already know they don’t always do a complete job. So, we have the answer: whether you’re selling your car or not, clean headlamps are a crucial safety feature.

Trim

Trim, especially significantly darker colored ones, fade and oxidize in the sun. No worries; BKF has an almost magical solution to make your car’s trim look brand new. It’s MORE Spray + Foam. Watch it at work here.

@mcmullanappliance

Didn’t see that one coming @Bar Keepers Friend! #cleaning #car #mustang #convertible #red #restore #bkf

♬ Funky Brass Groove – AtagoSounds

That Dusty Dash

Dust, dirt, and even insect bits constantly bombard your dash; one of the easiest and best ways to keep it shiny and new is with MORE Spray + Foam. Keep a can in your car for a quick daily wipe-down using the spray setting. And here’s the great thing about Spray and Foam: if you get a stubborn stain like a dried spill, use the foam setting on the nozzle. It’s a two-in-one super product for your dash.

Auto glass

Use BKF original powder to clean all your glass and remove water spots.

• Make a paste of Bar Keepers Friend Powdered Cleanser and water. Note: Be stingy with the BKF powder. A little dab will do
• Rub it on the glass and then let it sit for five minutes
• After five minutes, wipe away the paste with a soft, wet cloth or paper towel
• Shine it clean with a dry rag

@mcmullanappliance

Deep clean your windshield with @Bar Keepers Friend! #cleaning #glass #windshield #car #truck #auto #clean #sunshine #clear #dirty #deepclean

♬ original sound – Big Infinite

Under the Hood

You can use a Powdered Cleanser, Soft Cleanser, or both in the engine compartment. Start by letting the engine cool off. It’s best to do this in the morning before the car has been driven. Only use BKF on the metal components, not plastic, wires, or electrical equipment. To avoid contact with sensitive areas, sprinkle the products on a soft, damp cloth instead of directly on the engine. Wipe it on, let it sit for a minute, then wipe it off. Next, shine it up with a microcloth, which will look new!

Pro Tip: Gather Your Paperwork

Collect all relevant documents, including the title, registration, maintenance records, and warranties. This will make the selling process smoother and demonstrate to potential buyers that you’ve cared for the car.

A clean vehicle is much easier to sell than a dirty one. When someone sees a dirty car for sale, whether conscious or unconscious, they wonder about the overall maintenance and care the car or truck has received. So, don’t take that chance. Put some elbow grease and some BKF to work, and watch your vehicle look new again. Who knows, when you’re done, and the car is shining in the sun, you might not want to sell it!

Have you used BKF products on your vehicles? If so, we’d love to hear about it. Please drop us a note, Bar Keepers Friend Facebook Page

About the Author 

Randy Clark is a speaker, coach, and author. He publishes a weekly blog at Randy Clark Leadership.com. Randy is passionate about social media, leadership development, and flower gardening. He’s a beer geek, and on weekends (after COVID-19), he can be found fronting the Rock & Roll band Under the Radar. He’s the proud father of two daughters; he has four amazing grandchildren and a wife who dedicates her time to helping others. Randy is the author of the Amazon bestseller The New Manager’s Workbook: A crash course in effective management.