Biffle offers tips on making your car sparkle in summer

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- When you're a NASCAR star, the last thing you want is for someone to see you driving around town this spring in a car still wearing a winter coat of salt, sludge, dirt and grime. But when you have the busy schedule of most NASCAR drivers, you don't have much time for vehicle maintenance so you need an easy car care routine and products that really perform.

Greg Biffle, who drives the No. 16 3M Ford in the Sprint Cup Series, put his sponsor to work in his own garage. His collection of cars -- from the classic muscle cars to the Roush special edition Mustangs -- shows his handiwork, from complete restorations to performance improvements to beautiful exterior finishes.

Biffle offers a few simple tips to get your vehicle ready for spring style and summer fun in the sun.

"Getting your personal car ready for spring is just as important as a race team getting their cars ready for the race season," Biffle said. "The winter weather and tough road conditions can be hard on your car's exterior. With a few easy cleaning and maintenance projects in the spring, you can get rid of winter's damage and make your car look great during the warm-weather months."

For the car's exterior, Biffle said the key is to get all of the exterior finishes thoroughly washed and restored, then protected with a long-lasting finish to stand up to hot sun and coastal climates. The top 10 tips include:

1. Give it a good bath with 3M Car Wash Soap to remove winter salt, sand, dirt and grime without removing wax protection.

2. Remove the tar and debris with 3M Adhesive and Wax Remover. Just rub it on with a microfiber cloth, let sit for a few minutes to loosen dirt, old wax and tar, then wipe off.

3. Clean the wheels and tires with 3M Wheel and Tire Cleaner to remove brake dust and highway grime.

4. Restore tires to brand new finish with 3M Tire Restorer. Just spray on and wipe off for a deep black luster. 3M Tire Restorer is also good for restoring black plastic bumpers and door handles to showroom style.

5. Protect the clean finish on the wheel hubs or rims with 3M Performance Finish. Just wipe on and wipe off. Not only will it stand up to months of car washes, it also will endure tar and debris from summer road construction.

6. Remove surface scratches with 3M Scratch Remover. This new product quickly removes the scratches from the paint and gradually bring back a high-polish finish. For deeper scratches use 3M One Step Cleaner Wax. This easy-to-apply wax eliminates surface scratches and restores the shine to the paint finish in one easy step.

7. Give the car a good protective coat of 3M Performance Finish. This innovative finish, which chemically bonds with clear coat finishes, keeps the car's finish looking good through up to 50 washes. And it is simple to apply with no hazing -- just wipe on and wipe off in minutes using a 3M Microfiber Cloth without any worries for residue left in cracks and crevices.

8. Get the glass clean inside and out with 3M Glass Cleaner, which has a unique vertical cling to prevent drips and is safe to use on glass, plastic, chrome, metal and painted surfaces.

9. Protect the upholstery with 3M Leather and Vinyl Restorer, which revives the natural sheen and soft feel of the factory finish.

10. Clean the car's carpet with 3M Carpet Cleaner and remove winter salt and dirt with 3M Scotchgard Fabric and Upholstery Protector spray.

"A great finish is like sunscreen for your car," Biffle said. "It makes the car shine while protecting from damaging sunshine. Once you've cleaned and protected your car, all you need to do is wash it at least once a month to remove dirt and tar. You'll be ready to cruise all summer long."

The 3M Car Care product line is a comprehensive line of 3M products for automotive maintenance. The innovative product line includes performance cleaning products, waxes, compounds, glazes, adhesives, abrasives and specialty products, previously available exclusively to the professional market. 3M's Automotive Aftermarket Division serves the automobile owner and hobbyist as well as professional body shop, recreational vehicle and mechanical service markets.

The 3M Car Care product line can be found at leading automotive aftermarket retailers and online through select distributors.