If you are planning a road trip this season, it’s crucial to remember that the preparations for it should be far more elaborate than just filling it with fuel and hitting the ignition. A thorough pre-trip vehicle checkup can easily assess how exactly road-ready your vehicle is so you can take action to have any problems fixed before heading out for…

So, here are all the essential steps, taking which will guarantee a fresh and a spruced up look for your vehicle:

1 Make sure that before you start, that car is not exposed to any direct sunlight. This will cut the premature drying short which can make car’s paint cover with splotches.

2 Do a checklist of all the tools and stuff that you’ll need and place it strategically near to the car. This includes cleaning tools such as the soap that you will use for the washing process, few large buckets of water (depending on how big your vehicle is), a hose, new rags to dry your car, and other items, and a little help.

3 Mix the car wash soap and water in the bucket.

4 Leave the water in another bucket as plain as is.

5 Be sure to completely close all the doors and windows and detach the vehicle’s antenna.

6 Hose off the car to get rid of the first layer of the dirt. But don’t be too harsh on the surface right now, as this can rub grit over the paint and scratch it. Softly hose it all the surfaces. Aiming up around windows may cause water to get into the car if there are any leaks in the rubber seals.

7 Detach the car’s wipers away from the windshield (if you don’t know how to determine that they\re safe to pull, just do until they click into their position).

8 Soak a large wash rag or sponge in the bucket with a water-soap mix, then make sure to wash out any dirt in it, and begin applying it to the car. But beware, using a brush on car’s finish can really damage it, leaving small, but noticeable scratches.

9 Wash the car sectionally, starting at the roof. Repeat it for a few times in a loop, washing lower areas with each new round.

10 Rinse the dirt out of the wash mitt or sponge in the bucket with plain water frequently.

11 After one section is done, rinse it with the hose before continuing. No one needs soap to dry on the paint and stain it.

12 As you carry on, maintain the entire vehicle wet for now, as this will prevent droplets from drying on the paint and leaving water-spots. You want to dry the car with towels before the air and the sun dry it up.

13 Clean the rims and tires’ sidewalls with a hard plastic brush.

14 Closer to the end of the wash, rinse the bottom of the car, from different angles, with a spray nozzle. This is especially important when the car has been exposed to salt.

15 Dry the vehicle\s surface with fresh towels.

16  Every now and then, touch up and protect the clean car.

Get the rust off the car and touch up the paint if there is considerable damage.

Adhesive accessories that include the door, door-edge, bumper guards and reflective patches stick best to a clean and dry surface.

It’s important to know, that wax or a similar polish should be applied only to a clean, dry car.

Use RainX or similar water-repellent treatment to clean, dry glass to keep water out it and improve visibility.