Get Car care -> Washing and cleaning the car Guide for Volvo C30 4 Door First Generation (2006-2013)

08 Car care

Washing and cleaning the car

considerably and also helps prolong the

service life of the wiper blades.

Washing the car

The following points should be kept in mind

when washing and cleaning the car:

CAUTION

Avoid waxing or polishing plastic or rub-

ber components

•

Wash off the dirt from the underside (wheel

housings, fenders, etc).

•

The car should be washed at regular inter-

•

Polishing chromed strips can wear

away or damage the surface

In areas of high industrial fallout, more fre-

quent washing is recommended.

vals since dirt, dust, insects and tar spots

adhere to the paint and may cause dam-

age. To help prevent corrosion, it is partic-

ularly important to wash the car frequently

in the wintertime when salt has been used

on the roads.

Polishes containing abrasive sub-

stances should not be used

NOTE

When washing the car, remember to remove

dirt from the drain holes in the doors and

sills.

CAUTION

Avoid washing your car in direct sunlight.

•

During high pressure washing, the

spray mouthpiece must never be closer

to the vehicle than 13" (30 cm). Do not

spray into the locks.

•

Doing so may cause detergents and wax

to dry out and become abrasive. To avoid

scratching, use lukewarm water to soften

the dirt before you wash with a soft

Exterior components

Volvo recommends the use of special cleaning

products, available at your Volvo retailer, for

cleaning colored plastic, rubber, or ornamental

components such as chromed strips on the

exterior of your vehicle. The instructions for

using these products should be followed care-

fully. Solvents or stain removers should not be

used.

Dirt, snow, etc., on the headlights can

reduce lighting capacity considerably.

Clean the headlights regularly, for

example when refueling.

sponge, and plenty of sudsy water.

Bird droppings: Remove from paintwork

as soon as possible. Otherwise the finish

may be permanently damaged.

•

Special moonroof cautions:

A detergent can be used to facilitate the

softening of dirt and oil.

•

Always close the moonroof* and sun

shade before washing your vehicle.

•

Dry the car with a clean chamois and

remember to clean the drain holes in the

doors and rocker panels.

•

Never use wax on the rubber seals

around the moonroof.

•

Tar spots can be removed with tar remover

after the car has been washed.

Never use abrasive cleaning agents on

the moonroof.

•

A stiff-bristle brush and lukewarm soapy

•

water can be used to clean the wiper

blades. Frequent cleaning of the wind-

shield and wiper blades improves visibility

Automatic washing – simple and quick

We do NOT recommend washing your car in an

automatic wash during the first few months

208

* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.

08 Car care

Washing and cleaning the car

Waxing alone does not substitute for pol-

ishing a dull surface.

(because the paint will not have hardened suf-

ficiently).

•

WARNING

When the car is driven immediately after

being washed, apply the brakes several

times in order to remove any moisture

from the brake linings.

•

A wide range of polymer-based waxes can

be purchased today. These waxes are easy

to use and produce a long-lasting, high-

gloss finish that protects the bodywork

against oxidation, road dirt and fading.

An automatic wash is a simple and quick way

to clean your car, but it is worth remembering

that it may not be as thorough as when you

yourself go over the car with sponge and water.

Keeping the underbody clean is most impor-

tant, especially in the winter. Some automatic

washers do not have facilities for washing the

underbody.

Engine cleaning agents should not be

used when the engine is warm. This

constitutes a fire risk.

Do not polish or wax your vehicle in direct

sunlight (the surface of the vehicle should

not be warmer than 113 °F (45 °C).

•

Exterior lighting

Condensation may form temporarily on the

inside of the lenses of exterior lights such as

headlights, fog lights, or taillights. This is nor-

mal and the lights are designed to withstand

moisture. Normally, condensation will dissi-

pate after the lights have been on for a short

time.

CAUTION

Volvo does not recommend the use of long-

life or durable paint protection coatings,

some of which may claim to prevent pitting,

fading, oxidation, etc. These coatings have

not been tested by Volvo for compatibility

with your vehicle's clear coat. Some of them

may cause the clear coat to soften, crack,

or cloud. Damage caused by application of

paint protection coatings may not be cov-

ered under your vehicle's paint warranty.

Before driving into an automatic car

wash, turn off the optional rain sensor to

avoid damaging the windshield wipers.

•

Make sure that side view mirrors, auxil-

•

iary lamps, etc, are secure, and that any

antenna(s) are retracted or removed.

Otherwise there is risk of the machine

dislodging them

Polishing and Waxing

Normally, polishing is not required during

the first year after delivery, however, wax-

ing may be beneficial.

•

Chromed wheels: Clean chrome-

•

plated wheels using the same deter-

gents used for the body of the vehicle.

Aggressive wheel-cleaning agents can

permanently stain chrome-plated

wheels.

Before applying polish or wax the vehicle

•

must be washed and dried. Tar spots can

be removed with kerosene or tar remover.

Difficult spots may require a fine rubbing

compound.

After polishing use liquid or paste wax.

•

Several commercially available products

contain both polish and wax.

209

08 Car care

Washing and cleaning the car

Volvo also offers a special leather softener that

should be applied after the cleaner and pro-

tectant. It leaves leather soft and smooth, and

reduces friction between leather and other fin-

ishes in the vehicle.

This will help the leather resist staining and

protect against sunlight's harmful UV rays.

Upholstery care

Fabric

Clean with soapy water or a detergent. For

more difficult spots caused by oil, ice cream,

shoe polish, grease, etc., use a clothing/fabric

stain remover. Consult your Volvo retailer.

CAUTION

Under no circumstances should gaso-

•

Volvo recommends cleaning, protecting and

conditioning your vehicle's leather two to four

times a year. Ask your Volvo retailer about

Leather Care Kit 951 0251 and Leather Soft-

ener 943 7429.

line, naphtha or similar cleaning agents

be used on the plastic or the leather

since these can cause damage.

Interior plastic components

Cleaning interior plastic components should

be done with a cleaning agent specially

designed for this purpose. Consult your Volvo

retailer.

Take extra care when removing stains

such as ink or lipstick since the coloring

can spread.

•

Cleaning leather upholstery

1. Pour leather cleaner on a damp sponge

and squeeze it until the cleaner foams.

Use solvents sparingly. Too much sol-

vent can damage the seat padding.

•

Alcantera™ suede-like material

Suede-like upholstery can be cleaned with a

soft cloth and mild soap solution.

Start from the outside of the stain and

work toward the center.

•

2. Apply the foam to the stain by moving the

sponge with circular movements.

Sharp objects (e.g. pencils or pens in a

pocket) or Velcro fasteners on clothing

may damage the textile upholstery.

•

3. Dampen the stain thoroughly with the

sponge. Let the sponge absorb the stain,

do not rub.

Leather care

Volvo's leather upholstery is manufactured

with a protectant to repel soiling. Over time,

sunlight, grease and dirt can break down the

protection. Staining, cracking, scuffing, and

fading can result.

Clothing that is not colorfast, such as

new jeans or suede garments, may stain

the upholstery.

•

4. Dry the stain with soft paper towels or a

towel, and allow the leather to dry com-

pletely.

Volvo offers an easy-to-use, non-greasy

leather care kit formulated to clean and beau-

tify your vehicle's leather, and to renew the

protective qualities of its finish. The cleaner

removes dirt and oil buildup. The light cream

protectant restores a barrier against soil and

sunlight.

Protecting leather upholstery

1. Put a small amount of protectant cream on

a cloth and apply a thin coating of cream

to the upholstery with light circular move-

ments.

2. Allow the leather to dry for 20 minutes.

210

08 Car care

Washing and cleaning the car

Cleaning a leather-covered steering

wheel

CAUTION

Sharp objects, such as rings, could damage

the leather on the steering wheel.

Remove soil, dust, etc., with a damp

•

sponge and a neutral soap solution.

Leather should be allowed to breath. Never

cover the steering wheel with a plastic pro-

tector.

•

Cleaning the seat belts

Clean only with lukewarm water and a mild

soap solution.

Volvo recommends cleaning, protecting

•

and conditioning the steering wheel with

Volvo's Leather Care Kit 951 0251 and

Leather Softener 943 7429.

Cleaning floor mats

The floor mats should be vacuumed or brushed

clean regularly, especially during winter when

they should be taken out for drying. Spots on

textile mats can be removed with a mild deter-

gent. For best protection in winter, Volvo rec-

ommends the use of Volvo rubber floor mats.

Consult your Volvo retailer.

If there are stains on the steering wheel:

Type 1 (ink, wine, coffee, milk, sweat or blood)

–

Use a soft cloth or sponge. Wipe the wheel

with a solution with 5% ammonia. For

blood stains, mix approx. 1 cup (2 dl) of

water and one ounce (25g) of salt and wipe

the stain.

Type 2 (fat, oil, sauces, or chocolate)

1. Same procedure as for type I stains.

2. Finish by rubbing the wheel with absorbent

paper or a towel.

Type 3 (dry soil or dust)

1. Remove the soil/dust with a soft brush.

2. Same procedure as for type I stains.

211

Car care -> Washing and cleaning the car for Your Volvo C30 4 Door First Generation (2006-2013)

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