Keeping your car clean is something we all try to stay on top of—but it doesn’t have to feel like a chore. If you’re looking for a way to keep the kids entertained, why not turn it into a fun family activity?
Getting the kids involved in washing the car is a great way to keep them engaged while still getting the job done. It’s a simple way to mix play with productivity and maybe even earn them a little extra pocket money.
Here are our top tips to make car cleaning as a family a whole lot of fun!
1. Make it a race
Aim to clean your car as efficiently as possible, like an F1 pit crew. Most commercial car washes take around 5–10 minutes, so use that as your benchmark.
What you’ll need:
- A 10-litre bucket (enough water for most cars)
- A dedicated car wash solution (avoid household detergents, as they can damage the paintwork)
- A stopwatch or timer on your phone
Steps:
- Fill your bucket with water and add the car wash solution.
- Start your timer.
- Wash the car thoroughly, working from top to bottom.
- Rinse and finish as needed.
We recommend using the £8 Halfords Car Cleaning Bucket Bundle this bundle contains car shampoo, a bucket, a sponge and a pack of microfibre cloths.
2. Dry and polish with microfibre cloths
Nobody said getting the perfect finish was easy – you’ve got to work for that showroom shine. Our Halfords Microfibre Cloths can be used inside and out, to perfect your paintwork and bring back some elegance to your car interior.
You’ll find plenty of colourful cloths that are engineered to provide an expert finish whether they’re used to clean, dry or polish, and the kids will love picking their favourite.
Make polishing fun by setting a timer and see how fast you can buff your car. Work as a team and you’ll be much quicker! Record your best times somewhere and see if you can smash your personal best.
Channel your inner Karate Kid and take your car cleaning to the next level by applying a specialist car wax and polish. Using a microfibre cloth, apply your wax in long strokes. Set your kids a challenge to see who can get their part of the car the cleanest. Remember: wax on, wax off.
3. Car as a classroom
The key to making cleaning fun is to get creative. While cleaning the car, explain to your children how the various parts and systems work.
Teach them about the importance of crucial components including:
- Battery
- Ignition
- Spark plugs
- Oil
- Petrol Cap
- Tyres
Open up the bonnet and use your car as a classroom, describing what the various parts of your car are and what they do while cleaning each area as you go. Sit your child in the driver’s seat and explain to them what all the various knobs, switches and levers do. There are hours of fun to be had and some important life lessons too.
4. Car treasure hunt
Your car should look as good inside as outside. Set your kids a challenge and get them to dig for buried (or, more like, lost) treasure inside your car!
They’ll need to pile up everything outside the car to ensure that nothing gets lost or goes missing such as:
- locking wheel nut 12v adaptor
- Maps
- Car snacks
- Mobile phone cable
- Sunglasses
Once everything is out of the car, you can get to work with a vacuum cleaner and your microfibre cloths. A paintbrush or toothbrush can be effective at getting into tight spaces like air vents.
Tips for keeping your car clean with kids
It’s one thing to get your kids involved when cleaning the car, but how do you get your vehicle to stay that way for as long as possible when you have little ones?
We all know things can get a little messy when you have children, but there are still ways to keep your car interior cleaner for longer.
1. Remove odours
A regular spray of air freshener is a quick way to freshen up your car interior. A quick blast will eliminate odours from your little one’s spillages and other mishaps. We have a wide range of air fresheners at Halfords from sprays to hanging air fresheners or ones to place under your car seat.
2. Car interior wipes
Car wipes are a quick and convenient way to remove stains, dust and dirt from your car interior. We stock car wipes that can clean a variety of surfaces from your dashboard to glass to fabric and leather seats. Wipes can be easily stored in your glovebox and whipped out whenever you need them!
3. Car interior shampoo
For tougher stains, a car interior shampoo will do the trick. The Autoglym Interior Shampoo can be used on a variety of surfaces from car seats, steering wheels and car mats, removing stains and spillages to leave your car feeling fresh.
Key Takeaways
By following our tips and involving your family, not only will you have a better-looking car, but you can keep it cleaner for longer too.
Our bucket bundle includes everything you need to restore your car’s basic brilliance. Whatever car you drive and whatever state it’s in, Halfords can help bring back its shine with a few smiles along the way.
