Volvo Cleaning Tips In Maine

 
Cleaning your new or used Volvo can sometimes be a daunting task. If you would like to save the time necessary to ensure a great job is done, always remember Goodwin's Volvo detailing and cleaning services are available Monday through Friday and are only a phone call away.
Congratulations on your purchase of a new or used Volvo! Cleaning your Volvo correctly, in addition to regular servicing, is a sure-fire method to keep the value of your new automobile. Volvo's are designed with high-quality paints and interiors, but using the wrong materials or cleaning incorrectly might harm your paint or interior. This cleaning guide helps guarantee you're using the correct products and procedures to keep your Volvo looking new.
Before you begin cleaning your car, be sure the materials you're using are appropriate for it. Read all labels and directions before using any goods. NEVER use dishwashing liquid, on the other hand, as this is an abrasive soap that will suck essential oils right out of your paintwork. This might cause the oxidation of your paint over time. Only use cleaning agents and car care products recommended by Volvo.  Clean regularly and follow the instructions included with the car care product.

Cleaning Non-Leather Upholstery

Fabric

  • Clean with soapy water or a detergent. For more difficult spots caused by oil, ice cream, shoe polish, grease, etc., use a clothing/fabric stain remover, or call our service department for consultation.



Alcantera™ or suede-like material

  • Suede-like upholstery can be cleaned with a soft cloth and mild soap solution.

Cleaning Leather Upholstery

Volvo's leather upholstery is treated with a soil-repellant protectant. Sunlight, oil, and grime can erode the protection over time. Staining, cracking, scuffing, and fading are all possible outcomes.
Goodwin's Volvo has an easy-to-use, non-greasy leather care package designed to clean and enhance your vehicle's leather while also renewing the finish's protective characteristics. The cleanser gets rid of grime and grease buildup. The light cream protectant replenishes the barrier against soil and sunlight. Ask Goodwin's Volvo Parts Department about purchasing the Leather Care Kit.

  1. Pour leather cleaner on a damp sponge and squeeze it until the cleaner foams.

  2. Apply the foam to the stain by moving the sponge with circular movements.

  3. Dampen the stain thoroughly with the sponge. Let the sponge absorb the stain, do not rub.

  4. Dry the stain with soft paper towels or a towel, and allow the leather to dry completely.

Protecting leather upholstery:
Using the leather protector will help the leather resist staining and protect against sunlight's harmful UV rays.  To use the protectant:
  1. Put a small amount of protectant cream on a cloth and apply a thin coating of cream to the upholstery with light circular movements.

  2. Allow the leather to dry for 20 minutes. 

Cleaning A Leather Covered Steering Wheel

Leather should be allowed to breathe.  You should never cover the leather steering wheel with a protector.

Cleaning stains on the steering wheel:

Type 1 (ink, wine, coffee, milk, sweat, or blood):
  1. Use a soft cloth or sponge.  Wipe the wheel with a solution with 5% ammonia. 

  2. For bloodstains, mix 1 cup of water and one ounce of salt and wipe the stain.
 
Type 2 (fat, oil, sauces, or chocolate):

  1. Use a soft cloth or sponge.  Wipe the wheel with a solution with 5% ammonia.  

  2. Finish by rubbing the wheel with absorbent paper or a towel
 
Type 3 (dry soil or dust):

  1. Remove the soil/dust with a soft brush.

  2. Use a soft cloth or sponge.  Wipe the wheel with a solution with 5% ammonia.

Seat belts should be cleaned only with lukewarm water and a mild soap solution

Cleaning Floor Mats

The floor mats should be cleaned or brushed clean on a regular basis, especially during the winter months when they should be removed for drying. Spots on textile mats may be cleaned with a gentle detergent. For the finest winter protection, we recommend the use of Volvo rubber floor mats, that you can purchase directly from Goodwin's Volvo.
Washing The Exterior Of Your Volvo
Volvo recommends hand washing your new Volvo for a few months after the purchase to guarantee no harm is done to the finish. The reason for this is because the paint may not have had enough time to cure correctly after it was created, which might damage the finish.

Because dirt, dust, insects, and tar marks adhere to the paint and might cause damage, your Volvo should be cleaned on a regular basis. To help prevent corrosion, it is critical to wash the automobile often in the winter to remove salt and grime.
Volvo does not recommend the use of long-life or durable paint protection coatings; some of which may claim to prevent pitting, fading, oxidation, etc.  These coatings have not been tested by Volvo for compatibility with your vehicle's clear coat.  Some of them may cause the clear coat to soften, crack, or cloud.  Any damage caused by paint protection coatings may not be covered under your vehicle's paint warranty.

Note: Using an automated vehicle wash may not be as thorough as going over the car with a sponge and water manually. It is critical to keep the underbody clean, especially in the winter. If you use an automated vehicle washer in the winter, be sure it has an undercarriage wash, as some do not have the capability of washing the underbody.

Exterior Washing Tips

  • Avoid washing your car in direct sunlight.  Doing so may cause detergents and wax to dry out and become abrasive.  To avoid scratching, use lukewarm water to soften the dirt before you wash with a soft sponge, and plenty of sudsy water.
  • Remove bird droppings from paintwork as soon as possible or the finish may be permanently damaged.

  • A detergent can be used to facilitate the softening of dirt and oil.

  • Dry the car with a clean chamois cloth.

  • Tar spots can be removed with tar remover after the car has been washed.

  • A stiff-bristle brush and lukewarm soapy water can be used to clean the wiper blades. Frequent cleaning of the windshield and wiper blades improves visibility considerably and also helps prolong the service life of the wiper blades.

  • Wash off the dirt from the underside (wheel housings, fenders, etc).

  • In areas of high industrial fallout, we recommend more frequent washings.

  • When washing the car, remember to remove dirt from the drain holes in the doors and sills

Special Moonroof Cautions

  • Always close the moonroof and sun-shade before washing your Volvo.

  • Never use abrasive cleaning agents on the moonroof.

  • Never use wax on the rubber seals around the moonroof.

Chrome-Plated Wheels

Clean chrome-plated wheels using the same detergents used for the body of the vehicle.  Using aggressive wheel-cleaning agents can permanently stain the wheels.

Polishing and Waxing Your Volvo

Normally, it is not necessary to polish your Volvo during the first year after delivery, however, waxing your Volvo may be beneficial.

  • Before applying polish or wax the vehicle must be washed and dried.  Tar spots should be removed with tar remover.  Difficult spots may require a fine rubbing compound.
  • After polishing use liquid or paste wax.
  • Several commercially available products contain both polish and wax.
  • Waxing alone does not substitute for polishing a dull surface.
  • A wide range of polymer-based waxes can be purchased today.  These waxes are easy to use and produce a long-lasting, high-gloss finish that protects the bodywork against oxidation, road dirt, and fading.

  • Do not polish or wax your Volvo in direct sunlight (the surface of the vehicle should not be warmer than 113 °F (45 °C).