As we approach spring, the lighter and warmer days are getting closer.

That means that a lot of us will be going out more frequently than in the winter.

Our cars will have seen lots of salt, dirt and grime over the colder months, so now could be the best time to start cleaning and preparing your vehicle for spring.

We’ve compiled a list of some tips on how to give your car a spring clean.

Clean the exterior

The winter months can take their toll on our cars. The wet roads, high levels of salt, frost and snow can make them look unrecognisable.

Firstly, get a hose or a good quality pressure washer and give the car’s exterior a thorough wash. Make sure to get inside the wheel arches and underneath – which is where salt, mud and dirt collect.

Next, go over the car with a clean microfibre wash mitt or sponge, using a decent vehicle shampoo. This will loosen all the dirt from the body, and don’t forget to give the wheels a clean up too.

Finally, rinse the soap off using the pressure washer or hose, before drying the car off with a good quality shammy leather or microfibre towel.

An added bonus is to give your car a polish, making the paintwork pop in the sunlight, and will help it be more resistant from UV rays, bird droppings and poor weather.

Clean the interior

Next up, you want to tackle the interior. The inside of your car is where you spend the most time with it, so giving it a clean will instantly make it a better place to sit.

First of all, get the vacuum cleaner out and start hoovering up all the loose dirt. The longer a car goes without being vacuumed, the harder and longer it takes to make it look spotless.

If you have a pet, a great investment is to buy a hair removal brush, as this will make it easier to remove stubborn dog hair that could be buried in the carpet.

Also, if your seats have picked up a bit of dirt from winter, clean them up using a wet vax – which can suck up stubborn stains from the seat upholstery in a matter of minutes.

Then, go over the dashboard with some car interior shampoo and a cloth, as this can instantly transform the look of a car’s cabin. Make sure to wipe down all of the door cards, the centre console and around the air vents for any loose bits of debris and dust.

Do basic safety checks

Over the winter, your car will have been subjected to much harsher climates, putting strain on its engine and electrical components.

Do some basic safety checks to make sure your car is safe to drive throughout the spring. Take a look at the lights, making sure that the side, dip and main beams are working. Check the indicators, brake and reversing lights.

Next, check the tyres for damage. Look for cuts in the sidewalls, perishing in the rubber, and how much tread is left. In the UK, the minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, anything lower will be illegal and an MOT failure.

Look at the front windscreen for any damage, such as chips and cracks. A small chip can lead to a larger defect in the glass later on, so if you do spot some damage, be careful and monitor it.

Check the car’s fluid levels

In the winter, your car will go through a lot of screen washer fluid due to the windscreen constantly being covered in road grime. In the UK, a car is unroadworthy if it doesn’t have enough screenwash in its tank to clear the glass – so make sure you top up your car with washer fluid.

If your car is not due for a service, still take a look at its engine oil, and check on the dipstick to see if it’s not too low. Also, check the brake fluid reservoir and coolant, which can all be examined under the bonnet

Take it for a service

Simply getting your car serviced can help preserve its mechanicals and give it a new lease of life.

Replacing the engine oil, oil filter, spark plugs, pollen filter and brake fluid will make it safer on the road.

If you don’t want to do it yourself, there are plenty of reputable garages that will carry out a service for you. A car that has been well maintained will make it last longer and keep its value up, too.