-- A good hand washing of your vehicle to check out the condition of your paint and make note of any scratches or chips. If you find minor paint damage, buy some touch-up paint as soon as possible and apply it to keep rust from forming.

-- Clean the grease, salt and dirt out of your wheel wells and repair any rust.

-- Check the windshield for any chips or cracks and repair.

-- Replace worn out wiper blades.

-- Check tires for wear and proper tread depth.

On the interior:

-- If your car's carpet is subjected to a lot of salty water during the winter, a rug shampoo can help remove salt from the carpet's fibers and prevent rust from forming underneath.

-- Clean the vinyl in your car with a vinyl treatment product to prevent drying and cracking.

-- Clean your windows inside and out to improve visibility.

Of course, along with the spring cleaning and check-up comes the greasy mess from working on a car. But there's one product, now available nationwide, that makes cleaning up automotive grease and grime easy.

Greased Lightning High Performance Cleaner and Degreaser works on heavy grease and grime build-up on engines, tires, tools and shop floors, but is also safe for grease-stained uniforms, upholstery and carpet. Originally formulated more than 15 years ago for use in detail shops, Greased Lightning has been well known in car shows and motor sports circles for years. Only recently has word been getting out to other users, most notably through a national advertising campaign that was launched in late March.

One customer wrote, "When I purchased my car, it was full of coal dust from the previous owner. Coal dust, can you imagine? The upholstery was supposed to be green, but almost all of it was entirely black. I tried everything to get the coal out, but nothing worked. I was extremely pleased when I tried your product and it actually worked. I used it on the seats, the carpet and the dashboard. Now my entire car is clean."

Another pleased customer says, "I own a detail shop and can’t imagine cleaning without Greased Lightning."

What's more, after the car is clean, Greased Lightning will work on shop or garage floors, as well as on clothes and rags that become stained with grease. Just add to a load of laundry, and the grease disappears effortlessly.

Also available is Greased Lightning All Wheel Cleaner, made specifically for vehicle rims and wheel covers. It instantly dissolves brake dust and road grime, cleaning down to the original finish. It's safe for use on rims made of aluminum, plastic and clear or coated chrome.

Greased Lightning products are available at most chain retail stores and at automotive specialty stores nationwide. For more information, visit www.greased-lightning.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content