Used Cars

Getting your used car ready for sale: part 1 - cleaning

If you're selling a used car, there are a few key things that can help you sell faster and for more cash. After all, the aim of the game is to give prospective buyers as few reasons as possible for not buying...

Let's start with the basics: cleaning.

You'd be surprised how many people don't clean their vehicles, inside or out, before selling. You might also be surprised at how much this can affect the sale. (Autotrader offers the amazing, if slightly questionable statistic that an average cost of up to £3,483 is lost on a car with a stained interior.)

So, what should you clean? We'll begin with the exterior.

TIP: If you usually park your car underneath a tree or pylon, try and move it until it has been sold. This is to avoid an avalanche of bird muck if a flock happens to roost above your vehicle!
If you decide to do the wash and polish yourself, you'll need:

- Car shampoo (not washing up liquid which can cause damage and streaks)
- Large, quality sponge
- Hose, pressure washer or – the old fashioned way – a bucket
- Car wax
- Chamois leather for buffing
- You may also need window cleaning solution and a window cleaning tool
- Vacuum cleaner for the interior
- Possibly upholstery shampoo

When cleaning, open the doors and clean the edges where the doors and boot open. A lot of grime collects here. Similarly, open up the bonnet and clean the area where the wipers meet the body. This tends to be a hotspot for leaves, dirt and sometimes rust.

Make sure that you spend extra time cleaning the wheels and rims. You can buy special alloy cleaner for hubcaps, and make sure to wipe down the flaps.

After cleaning, give the entire car a hose down with clean, cold water. As it dries, buff the vehicle with the chamois. The chammy will take off any excess moisture.

Give the car a hard polish, making sure to go over each area a few times so it doesn't look streaky or patchy. You may see a little colouration on the cloth – that's nothing to worry about. Most cars have a layer of “dead paint”.

As for the interior:

- Remove any rubbish and larger bits of fluff.
- Take out any floor mats and seat covers.
- Get the vacuum into all the nooks and crannies it can reach, including the creases between seats and the dashboard.
- Take a look at the upholstery after vacuuming. If it's grubby or lacklustre, you may want to use upholstery shampoo to give it a thorough clean.
- If you have a wooden dash, use low-gloss cleaner.
- Use a chammy and window cleaning fluid to clean the windows from the inside.
- If there are any stains on the seats, use white spirit (but only a small amount applied to a cloth and gently dabbed on the stained area).
- If there are severe stains or burns, you may be better off paying a professional.

If you're thinking “sell used car” - those are a few good starting points to get ready for sale.

In the next part of this series we'll look at dealing with more complicated details, such as chips, scratches and burns. If you're looking for a fast, simple and fair sale, try us as http://www.sellcar-uk.com/