Clean up when selling your used car

Private car sellers could save up to £600 by simply cleaning their car before showing it to potential buyers, according to an automotive analyst.

EurotaxGlass has been firing off questions, scribbling down notes and doing its sums again and been drawn to the conclusion that by working your car up into a lather - prior to sticking a for sale sign in the window - will save you getting all het up when prospective buyers attempt to knock your price down. Which they will when confronted with a mucky Pug. Or Renault Clio. Or Ford Focus. Or Vauxhall Astra. Add you own car here.

Apparently, would-be private car buyers aren't very enamoured when facing a dirty car, and find it difficult to see beyond last season's colour of choice (that being Winter Mud and Grime) when asked to stump up the full asking price for your motor.

That's why EurotaxGlass is waxing lyrical about how presenting a car in a better light will negate the need to get involved in stressful negotiations, the ones which usually result in the seller coming off worse.

These are wise words indeed given the current state of the used-car market, as aftermath of the 08 March registration plate change has seen a vast array of used cars flooding the UK market – consequently meaning buyers can afford to be particularly choosy.

It's all about car buyers first impressions. The general consensus is that a clean car implies a generally well looked after car, so an exacting wash and polish combined with an interior sweep will pay dividends when it gets to the business end of the selling procedure.

To reinforce such claims, here's a few EurotaxGlass facts that may inspire you to clean up your cars image.

* Take a lower-medium sized three year old Ford Focus for example. Apply some soap and water and it's possible that a buyer would fork out another £300 as a result of being taken aback by its gleam. Congratulations.

* Adopting the same principles to a six year old Vauxhall Astra would be worth another £150 more than you thought – once it's had the bucket and sponge treatment.

* Better still, a 12-month old upper-medium prestige vehicle like a BMW 3-series could reach an additional £600 premium after a spot of elbow grease application.

* For the lazy of limb, there's always professional valeters, who, in exchange for £40 notes could add hundreds more to your cars perceived worth at the point of sale. Consider it an investment, especially if the vehicle's been smoked in. What's more, some new floor mats and a new set of wheel trims wouldn't go amiss if you really want to make an impression.

Some tips on cleaning your car

* Always wash your car in the shade and make certain that the surface is cool to the touch.

* Use good quality car wash formulations that are pH-balanced.

* Use two buckets, one for washing and one for rinsing.

* To reduce the time it takes to dry your vehicle, on the final rinse, remove the nozzle and let the water gently flow out over the surfaces of your car in a stream of water rather than a spray. This will sheet the water off your car, leaving much less water to dry and saving you a lot of time and effort.

* To avoid scratches during the drying process, only use a high quality microfibre towel.

* Wax every three or four months for a new-car shine, but be sure to use high-quality products.

How to clean your car's interior

* Remove floor mats and hoover thoroughly.

* Use soft brush attachment to vacuum the dashboard and doors, but take particular care with leather seats and trim.

* Clean fabric seats, door upholstery and carpets with a special cleaner and use elbow grease. Don't soak seats or carpets though.

* Clean dashbaords and trim with a slightly damp cloth, before drying with another cloth. Dry polish dashboards, but don't spray directly onto electronics.

* Treatments are available for aircon units that kill bacteria and add a more pleasing odour. Follow instructions on the products, which can be bought from garages.