It is a spooky time of year and not just because of scary decorations and the prospect of tricks more than treats. Instead, our cars, trucks, and SUVS, are fearful of witch makeup, princess glitter, sticky candy hands, and food residue of all types. Pitt Stop Detail & Auto Sales can help you keep your vehicle in top shape to get through the Halloween season and into the holidays. 

Prevention

The best way to avoid car stains this Halloween is to ban all candy, food, and costumes from your vehicle. Outside of that, it is always a good idea to be prepared with trash bags and to designate set days and times when you clean up trash or other left behind items. Consider a tub or extra bag in your trunk or cargo area for all the costume accessories that may be shed in transport or need to be left in the car for the next big event. Starting with a clean car, with a thorough interior detail, can help as well. 

Candy and Food

There isn’t really a safe food to eat in the car, you are bound to get crumbs or stains that need your attention. Even with pouches or smoothies, they could get jostled and make a mess that is very hard to clean up. Try to limit eating in your car as much as possible. When you do need to eat in the car, consider the worst case scenario. If your child is begging for candy to eat in the car, see if you can choose an option that is clean to eat. Chocolate can melt, sugary candies can leave behind sticky food coloring, and even gummy bears could melt if left behind in a hot car. Do a quick spot check before getting out of the car and pack wipes to clean off hands. If candy has gotten in the car, treat with soap, water, and heavy scrubbing if needed. What in Car recommends “[t]he best way to remove melted candy from your car seats is with a product called Goof-off…” This product or similar cleaners can help for anything you missed that had a chance to dry. 

Glitter and Accessories

Many costumes involve glitter, sequins, fibers from wigs, and makeup that is not designed to last longer than a few hours. These can leave quite a mess in your car when transporting your costumed friends from place to place, especially in the case of glitter. For any pieces of costume that have shed off, use a vacuum first, making multiple passes at the areas that need cleaning. Then, for vehicles with vinyl or leather seats, use a damp washcloth. You may have to commit a few attempts if the glitter is particularly stubborn. Makeup, especially oil based products, should be wiped off as soon as possible and treated with a soap solution if needed. 

Mud and Dirt

Sometimes our Halloween events can be overshadowed by a storm. When this happens, wet and soggy costumes, paired with muddy shoes and feet, can lead to havoc in our previously clean car. If there is rain in the forecast, packing a few extra towels to protect your interior can go a long way. If shoes get too muddy, remove them and place them in a plastic bag to keep the mud contained. If you don’t have something to hold muddy shoes, try to limit the area of exposure by placing all of them in one floorboard or in the trunk, preferably the easiest place to clean when you get home. Once you are back home, pat wet areas dry with a clean towel or cloth. Wipe up as much mud as possible, vacuum what is left behind, then use a gentle soap and water to clean the rest of the dirt left behind. 

If you have a stain or spot that needs a little extra attention or if you want a reset with a full detail of your interior and exterior, contact Pitt Stop Detail & Auto Sales. We can clean and restore your car to be sparkling and smelling fresh.