After a long week on a work site or a fun weekend of mudding your Ford truck could use some detailing.

Get your truck shining like brand new by incorporating the following recommendations into your vehicle cleaning routine. The first step is to be prepared and have everything you need at your disposal to avoid wasting time.

Before you begin, gather all of the items you’ll need:

– A bucket with clean water
– Stiff brushes
– Toothbrush or paintbrush
– Leather chamois (shammy)
– Microfibre sponge
– Microfibre cloths
– Motorcraft® Premium cleaning products

Clean your Ford Truck like a Pro

Clean your Ford Truck like a Pro with Ford approved Motorcraft products.

INTERIOR

Start off by cleaning the interior first to ensure any dirt stirred up doesn’t end up on the freshly cleaned paint.

Pro tip: Use a stiff brush to loosen dirt from the carpeting but don’t be too aggressive or you may damage the material.  To help remove odour generating spills and salt stains a mixture of vinegar and water can often do the trick.

If you’re going to do a job, make sure to do it right. An old paint or toothbrush can work wonders for getting dirt out of small crevices for those hard to reach areas where surfaces meet up. It’s best to use proper automotive leather cleaner such as Motorcraft® Premium Leather Cleaner, ZC-56 to keep leather supple. Be careful using new products – it’s best to test on a small out of sight area to ensure the product will work as expected. Watch out when using chemicals on any transparent plastics as they are easily damaged. If you’re unsure about the chemical on the plastic parts, use a damp cloth instead.

GLASS

Clean glass with a cleaner designed for use on automotive glass to avoid damaging window tint or protective window coatings. Motorcraft® Ultra-Clear Spray Glass Cleaner, ZC-23 or Premium Glass Cleaner, CXC-100 works great, and doesn’t leave a film behind! Don’t forget to crack the windows to ensure the edge where the glass meets the window frame is clean as well.

ODOURS AND VENTS

Low-pressure compressed air (from a compressor or a can) can be used to blow out air vents to remove debris and keep. This step removes that stale or musty smell. Check your cabin air filter, and replace if required.

WHEELS TIRES

Clean wheel and tires next to ensure any chemicals that contact the paint are washed off. Be sure to use a separate set of cleaning tools on wheels and tires to minimize the chance of wheel grime coming into contact with the painted surfaces. Non-acid based tire cleaner work best to avoid oxidation and pitting of wheels. Some products used on tires at commercial car washes aren’t safe to use on your Ford. Maintain the appearance of your wheels, while ensuring proper maintenance and safety by effectively removing harmful brake dust build-up. Motorcraft® Wheel Tire cleaner (ZC-37) maintains the appearance of your wheels, while ensuring proper maintenance and safety by effectively removing harmful brake dust build-up.

EXTERIOR

Clean and protect the paint last. The best car wash is one done by hand since machines can’t provide the thoroughness of a hand wash. Pro tip: Wash your vehicle in the shade, which allows the vehicle to be cool and avoid staining the finish. Don’t use dishwasher detergent. It’s not the same as an automotive cleaner and can strip protective wax coatings from the paint. Instead use a product specifically formulated for use on automotive paint such as Motorcraft® Detail Wash, ZC-3-A. For removing road trip grime try Motorcraft® Bug and Tar Remover, ZC-42. A proper car wash protects wax and natural oils in your vehicle’s paint, while effectively removing dirt and protecting your vehicle’s original factory paint pH level for a long lasting sheen. Pro Tip: Wash from the top of the vehicle down, and remember to rinse out your sponge each time before putting it back into the soapy water bucket to avoid rubbing road grime and debris back onto the paint. Use a microfiber cloth or leather chamois (shammy) to wipe down your vehicle before the water dries to avoid water spots and staining.

Beware of imitation or chemicals unknown. To clean your vehicle like a pro, the first step is choosing the right products designed specifically for your Ford.  Whether it’s coolants, oils, lubricants, solvents or car care products, Motorcraft® mixes quality materials, products, integrity, and customer satisfaction. Motorcraft® is the only chemical brand recommended by Ford Motor Company, and specifically designed for Ford vehicles.

Clean your Ford Truck like a Pro