Tips and Benefits of Spring Cleaning Your EV

Cleaning your car can boost its long-term health - and yours, too. Here’s what to do

It's time to come clean. Secretly, we all love that feeling of standing back and admiring our sparkling clean EV, especially if we’ve put in the work ourselves. A good spring clean doesn’t just help your EV look good – it can add to its cleanliness and the air quality within the vehicle.

So go ahead – reach for those rubber gloves, turn up the radio, and get stuck in with the bp pulse spring clean guide.

Get to the heart of things

Start with your interior. Open up the doors and give your EV a thorough clean – take out any clutter and then vacuum the seats and carpets. Treat the dashboard, steering wheel and door panels to a gentle clean with a microfiber cloth and mild cleanser.

Give your mats some TLC

Take out the floor mats and give them some extra care. If they're rubber or all-weather mats, simply wash or hose them down and let them air dry. For carpeted mats, a carpet cleaner and brush before vacuuming will help keep them stain-free and smelling fresh.

Go for leather

If your EV has leather seats, wiping them with leather cleaner and conditioner keeps them soft and supple, reduces cracking and keeps them at their best.

Care for rubber seals

Rubber seals play a big part in keeping you and your passengers warm and dry, so it pays off to pay attention to them. Check the rubber seals around the doors and windows of your EV for signs of wear or damage. If they’re dirty, clean them with a mild detergent and water, remove any debris, and then apply a rubber conditioner to keep them supple, prevent cracking, and maintain your insulation.

Think sanitization

Grab some disinfectant spray or wipes and thoroughly clean your steering wheel, door handles, touchscreen, gear shifter, and any other high-touch spots. This helps keep your car not just looking sharp, but also healthy and germ-free.

Check your air vents

Over time, dust and debris can build up in the air vents of your EV, which can keep circulating inside your car and leave the air feeling stuffy. Grab a small brush – like an old toothbrush – or use a compressed air tool to remove any buildup. This quick step will help improve the air quality inside your EV and keep every drive feeling fresh.

Get rid of any junk in your trunk

Clear out your trunk, vacuum it thoroughly, and wipe it down to make room for trips to the beach, picnics, grocery runs, and weekend getaways – where that extra space is sure to come in handy. Your future self will appreciate it.

Treat your EV to bubbles

Grab some car wash soap and a microfiber mitt – these are your best bet for protecting your paint from scratches, since sponges can sometimes trap dirt and drag it across your car’s finish. Give the exterior a good wash, making sure to hit the windows, body panels, and wheels. Once you’re done, give everything an extra rinse to wash away any leftover soap.

Next, windows and glass

Use a glass cleaner and microfiber cloth, clean and wipe down the interior and exterior windows of your EV, including, for extra visibility points, your rearview mirror and side mirrors.

Time to wax and shine

Once your car is dry, apply a layer of wax or sealant to the outside. This helps protect the paint and keeps your EV looking shiny and new, and can also repel water, sun damage and prevent water spots, to make that ‘just washed’ look last a little longer.

Now, stand back, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and bask in those spring clean feels. And remember, if you want to help your EV strut its stuff, our EV charging sites are waiting for you to pull in, charge up, and show off your hard work. You’ve earned it! Find all our locations on our free app.