Exterior services can have your car shining bright

February is the month for giving chocolates and roses to your sweetheart, but don't forget to show your car some love, too.

Your car inspired a gleam in your eye back when you bought it.

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Now that you're keeping it longer and it's accumulating some age, it may not have the same visual appeal it once did.

Unfortunately, you can't trade it in on a younger model with the current economy. But, there are some simple things you can do to help make your car shine like it once did and maintain its value.

All it takes is just some time and a little elbow grease.

Take years off the look of your car by performing exterior care services regularly:

1. Give your car a good bath once per week to remove dirt and grime without removing wax protection. A clean car protects against contaminants picked up from the road every day.

2. Clean up the headlights to remove scratches and yellow hazing that age the car and reduce nighttime visibility.

3. Don't forget the wheels and tires. Clean them as well to remove brake dust and highway grime.

4. Restore black plastic bumpers, door handles and tires to brand new finish with a tire restorer. Just spray on and wipe off for a deep black luster.

5. Remove surface scratches with a cleaner wax. It will gradually bring back a high-polish finish. For deeper scratches use a specialized scratch remover.

6. Give your car a good protective coat of wax. It'll keep the car's finish looking good through several washes.

If you love your car as much as most people do, you want to take care of it.

Visit www.3Mcarcare.com for an innovative product line of automotive cleaning products, waxes, compounds, adhesives, abrasives and specialty products.