The best way to clean my car before selling it

Investing time and some money will help you to get more eyes on your listing and a better price, so see this as an investment. This might be the best Vehicle selling advice.

Start by getting rid of all the clutter:

• Toss out the rubbish – look under seats, side pockets, and the little cracks.
• Remove personal items so they aren't in the way of you or future test drivers.
• Wash the body with a good soapy car product or take it to a car wash.
• Vacuum everything and remember to remove floor mats to clean under them.
• Wipe interior surfaces – from the dash to door handles.
• Use window cleaner and wipe down the inside glass.
• On the outside, remove leaves from the bonnet, engine bay, and boot crevices.

Let's start with the basics. Look under seats, side pockets, and the little cracks to see if there's anything you need to remove for the big clean-up. You'll want to empty the glove compartment, as this should be empty if you want to sell the car. Also, be sure to check the car boot, especially if there's anything in one of those hidden compartments.

I would recommend bringing the vehicle to a car wash. This is an easy and fast way to get the car clean. Some car wash facilities offer additional packages that will save you some time and effort. Using those heavy-use vacuum cleaners also makes life easier. If you head there, don't forget to check the engine bay; you might want to get rid of some leaves and other things.

If no car wash is close, or you like to do things yourself, you don’t need much to clean the car. Park the car in the shade. If the water dries too fast in the sun, you might get streaks and spots, which is definitely not ideal for taking the best pictures to sell your car.

To save time, it's a good idea to get all the cleaning supplies organised first. Don’t forget to close your windows, and put your wipers up and facing away from the windshield.

Minimum requirements:

• one bucket with soapy water
• a sponge
• a cloth or a microfibre towel
• a vacuum cleaner
• old toothbrush
• some toothpaste
• Q-tips

Definitely helpful:

• a garden-hose or one bucket with clean water for rinsing
• window cleaner & window cloth
• a pressure washer
• a microfibre cloth
• Car cleaning gel
• Cleaning Powder

If you want to do give your car a professional cleaning, you can find car cleaning kits on our Marketplace.

Start by thoroughly hosing down your entire car off. Then, get rid of all visible dirt like bird droppings or mud with the sponge. After that, focus on the various areas. Work from top to bottom. Clean the windows first; if available, dry them with a special cloth to avoid streaks.

Depending on the make and type, you might want to change the order, but after the windows, clean the hood, sides, and boot. Ever wondered why second-hand cars at a dealer look so pristine? They professionally clean and rinse each section individually before immediately wiping the surface dry with a microfibre cloth. This segmented approach prevents water spots and ensures a perfect finish.

Headlight restoration really makes a difference when you want to sell your car. A neat trick is to rub toothpaste across the headlights, and remove it with a sturdy cloth. The mild abrasive in the toothpaste helps buff out the cloudiness, making them look clearer and newer—a huge selling point for safety and aesthetics.

Another highlight area is the wheels. They collect the most grime, and a clean set of wheels is highly noticeable. Make a paste out of Cleaning Powder. Rub the rims thoroughly to break down the brake dust and road dirt, and then rinse them off to make them shiny.

This is optional, and if you don't feel comfortable, skip this section. How to get rid of this kind of damage also depends on the severity and location. However, in general, smaller scratches can be removed easily. If a scratch is just on the surface level (clear coat), you can do this with scratch removers.

This is a quick fix that often polishes away minor imperfections, greatly improving the visual appeal. If the paint is intact, a dent puller might be able to help with small, soft dents by creating suction and pulling the panel back into shape. This can save you a trip to the body shop for minor cosmetic issues.