Driving guides
Practical, general advice for a cleaner, more comfortable and better-prepared car. Always follow your vehicle handbook and the instructions on each product.
Washing your car the gentle way
Wash in the shade when the paint is cool. Rinse first to remove loose grit, then wash from the roof down with a car-specific shampoo — household detergents can strip wax. A two-bucket method (one for soapy water, one for rinsing the mitt) helps keep grit off the paint. Dry with a clean microfibre drying towel instead of letting water spots form.
Microfibre care
Wash microfibre towels separately, without fabric softener, which clogs the fibres. Keep separate towels for paint, glass, wheels and interior so dirt from wheels never reaches your paintwork.
Clear glass, inside and out
Clean the inside of the windscreen regularly — a film builds up from the dashboard and makes glare worse at night. Use a dedicated glass cleaner and two towels: one to clean, one to buff dry.
A calmer, tidier interior
Give everything a place: a trunk organiser for shopping and emergency items, a seat-back organiser for passengers, and a small bin for rubbish. Loose heavy objects can become dangerous in hard braking, so secure them in the boot.
Phone mounting and safe driving
Mount your phone where it does not block your view of the road or any airbag zone, and set navigation before you start driving. Rules about touching phones while driving vary by country — check your local law.
Charging on the road
Match the charger to your phone: check the connector (USB-C or USB-A) and the fast-charging standard it supports. Use quality cables and avoid leaving devices charging in a hot, parked car.
Tyre pressure basics
Check pressures at least monthly and before long trips, with the tyres cold. The correct values are usually on a label inside the driver's door or fuel flap and in your handbook — not the maximum printed on the tyre.
A simple road-trip kit
Many drivers carry a warning triangle, high-visibility vest, first-aid kit, torch, phone charger, water and a blanket. Some of these are legally required in certain European countries, so check the rules for every country you will drive through.
Replacing bulbs
Always use the bulb type listed in your vehicle handbook and check that replacement lamps are approved for road use in your country. Upgraded or LED retrofit bulbs are not legal in every vehicle or country.