Keeping Your First New Car Clean

August 27, 2022

Keeping your first new car clean isn’t only about how it looks. As important as a good-looking vehicle might be, keeping your first new car clean will help components last longer, work better, and add to the car’s value.

It’s your first new car, not your first car. Your first car that wasn’t asking mom or dad for the keys was a 12-year-old beater. It had originally been your dad’s when he bought it used, and then it was your older sisters before being handed down to you. It had over 100,000 miles. One wheel was white, and the others were black. The passenger side door wouldn’t open from the inside. Like I said, it was your first car. It definitely did not have that new car smell!

You’ d heard the saying “new car smell” but didn’t know it was real until you took delivery of your new car. Okay, so some of the new car smell might be off-gassing of plastic parts, but it smells good. It doesn’t smell like a combination of sweaty gym trunks and old McDonald’s sacks, you know, like your trade in. It smells good, looks good, and you want to keep it that way. So, here are a few tips on using Bar Keepers Friend products for keeping your first new car clean.

Keeping Your First New Car Clean

Keeping Your Tires and Wheels Clean 

My youngest daughter has a new Ford Bronco, her first new car. She waited six months for it.

She lives in central Florida. Earlier this summer, I drove down for a visit and had a great time. One of the things we did was take her Bronco to a state park; well, she took it. I rode. She took the Bronco off-road, did spin-outs in the mud, and covered the tires and wheels in mud. I left the next day, so I don’t know how she cleaned them, but I know hosing them off wouldn’t be enough.

Bar Keepers Friend powdered or BKF MORE Spray + Foam will take your tires and wheels from muddy to looking good buddy, in minutes.

Cleaning Your Tires and Wheels with BKF Powdered Cleanser

What you’ll need

• Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser
• A Soft Sponge
• Dry soft cloth (We like micro-fiber)

Cleaning steps

1. Make a paste with the original BKF Cleanser and water
2. Spread it on with a sponge, then let it sit for one minute before you wipe it clean with the sponge
3. Rinse
4. Dry with a soft cloth
5. Repeat as needed

 Using BKF MORE Spray + Foam for a quick tire, rim, and wheel clean 

• Shake the More Spray + Foam before using
• Rotate the trigger spray nozzle to foam
• Apply the foam to the tires and wheels. The foam will hold vertically
• Clean off the foam with a soft, damp cloth
• Wipe the tire and wheel dry with a paper towel

Pro Tip: Before using BKF products on any painted surface, check it first in an out-of-sight area. 

Dash that Dust and Grime 

Dust, dirt, and even insect bits constantly bombard your dash; one of the easiest and best ways to keep your dash 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.

Make Those Headlights Shine Bright

Your headlights are the eyes of your car. Not only do you want them to look good but to work their best. You can use BKF powdered cleanser or MORE Spray + Foam, but I like the BKF Soft Cleansers. It’s good for a quick clean and does the job. It can even remove rust stains, tarnish, and creepy crushed bugs!

Auto Scratches?

We haven’t tried this, but one of our fans did and has the photos to prove it. Heaven forbid you get a scratch on your new car, but it happens, and scratches reduce your car’s value. Here’s how she removed the scratch with BKF.

“It might sound strange, but you can actually use Bar Keepers Friend to erase small scratches and marks on your car. It works similarly to those polishing compounds you can get at auto supply stores. Just use a small amount, and make sure to wipe up any leftover cleaner afterward!” — Jill Nystul

Under the Hood

You can use either 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, it might be best to 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 micro cloth, and it will look like new!

Keeping your first new car clean can be fun. The key is using products that get the job done and don’t take all day to do it. We got you covered.

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 educators; 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.