Articles
Tips on washing, caring for and servicing your car, from Lauttasaari.
Cleaning the boot after a move, hobby gear or a renovation
How to clean the boot after a move, hobby gear or a renovation load, why fine dust is vacuumed dry and which interior cleaning is the right one.
Can you bring your car in for a wash right after a long drive?
Yes, and insects are best washed off soon. When to let hot brakes cool down first, and which wash suits your car after a long trip on the road.
Car pulling to one side? When to have the alignment checked
Tyre pressure, worn tyres, wheel angles or brakes? How to find out why your car pulls to one side, and tell a balancing problem from an alignment one.
City driving: when should you change the oil and filters?
Short trips and cold starts count as severe use for many manufacturers. How to find the right oil change interval and which filters need replacing.
How do I prepare my car for interior cleaning?
Empty the car, take your valuables with you and mention any pet when you book. Plus directions to Lauttis, parking and how much time to allow.
What to do if the paint feels rough after a wash
Roughness comes from particles stuck to the paint, such as iron fallout and tree sap. A clay treatment removes them, and then the paint is protected.
Should you wash your car's underbody in summer too?
Wash the underbody at least after winter, once road salt has built up underneath. In summer the need is smaller, except for mud from gravel and cottage roads.
How to clean and protect leather and faux leather car seats
Step by step: how to clean leather and faux leather seats, which products to avoid and why genuine leather needs a conditioner as well as cleaning.
How much does car waxing cost, and what makes up the price?
Prices for waxes and coatings, how long the protection lasts and what the price includes. How to compare wax and coating and choose one for your car.
Where do paint scratches come from, and will wax remove them?
Most scratches come from washing and wiping. Wax hides fine scratches for a while, but polishing removes them. Here is how to recognise a deep scratch.
Clean headlights, mirrors and cameras: see better in the dark
A dirty headlight gives less light, and a covered camera or radar can stop working. Here is how to clean them without scratching and clear cloudy lenses.
Cabin air filter: when to change it and how to tell it's time
Weak airflow, misting windows and a stale smell can all point to a clogged cabin air filter. Here is how to tell when it is time to change it.
Why rain is no substitute for a car wash
Rain rinses off loose dust, but the greasy film from traffic stays on the paint and glass. Where water spots come from and which wash removes them.
Coffee, grease and salt stains on car seats: how to clean them
Blot, don't rub: first aid for coffee, grease and salt stains on fabric and leather seats, the most common mistakes and when wet cleaning helps.
Washing and caring for a coated car so the protection lasts
A coated car does not need waxing, but it does need washing the right way. Hand washing spares the coating; brush washes and dry wiping wear it.
When to change the timing belt, and what if the interval is missed?
The timing belt is changed at the manufacturer's interval, when the mileage or time limit is reached. Where to find it and what a broken belt can do.
Why do brakes judder or make noise, and when should you act?
What brake squealing, grinding and judder usually mean, when you must stop driving at once, and how to describe the symptom to the mechanic.
Can bird droppings damage your car's paint?
Yes: acidic droppings etch the clear coat when they are left to dry on it. How to remove them without rubbing, and what to do if a mark is left.
Hand wash or automatic car wash: which suits your car?
An honest comparison: where an automatic wash is enough, what the machine cannot reach, how scratches happen and when a hand wash is worth it.
How often should you wash your car?
The right interval depends on the season, how much you drive and where the car is kept. Signs that it needs a wash, and the dirt that should come off at once.
How to find us at Lauttis: entrance, parking and height limit
We are on level P1 of the Lauttis shopping centre, entrance at Lauttasaarentie 28. Routes, two hours of free parking and the 2.4 m height limit.
Protecting a new car: why wax or coat it right away
A new car's paintwork is at its best right now, so it pays to protect it early on. Here is how to choose between wax and a paint coating.
Small checks you can do yourself on a city car
Tyre pressures, lights, fluids and warning lights: easy checks that help you spot changes early, and when it is time to take the car in for servicing.
Getting a car ready for sale: what does a buyer notice first?
A buyer first notices the paint, how tidy the interior is, the smell and the headlights. These services put them right before you sell the car.
Insects and tree sap on paint: how to remove them without scratches
Insects and tree sap come off when you soften them first instead of scraping. Here is how to remove them properly and protect the paint before summer.
Summer road trip: what to wash before you leave and after
Before the cottage trip: clean glass, a full washer reservoir and a tidy interior. Afterwards: insects and cottage-road dust off. How to choose your wash.
Tyre pressures and rims: how they affect fuel use and handling
How the wrong tyre pressure affects fuel use, wear and grip, how to measure pressures correctly, and what vibration or a leaking tyre means.
Wiper streaks and misted windows: how to keep the glass clear
What causes streaks and misting, how to clean the inside of the glass, when to replace the wiper blades and what to do about a stone chip in the windscreen.
Dog hair in the car: keeping a pet owner's car tidy
Why dog hair will not come out with a vacuum cleaner, which everyday tricks help, and when it is worth adding pet hair removal to an interior cleaning.
What causes a bad smell in a car, and how do you get rid of it?
Damp, spilled drinks, smoke and pets: how to find the source of a smell, why air freshener is not enough and when ozone treatment helps.
Getting your car ready for winter: tyres, wax, windows and interior
Winter tyres in good time, wax before the salt season, winter-grade washer fluid and stone chips repaired. An autumn checklist and tyre packages.
Getting your car ready for spring: grit, pollen and summer tyres
Winter's film off the paint, grit out of the mats and summer tyres on: what to see to in spring and which services you can combine in one visit.
Before the vehicle inspection: what to check and fix in time
You can check the lights, tyres, windscreen and leaks yourself before the vehicle inspection. What else is inspected, and when to repair a stone chip.
Scheduled service or basic service: what is the difference?
A scheduled service follows the manufacturer's service schedule; a basic service covers oil, filters and checks. How to choose and ask for a quote.
Tyre hotel: what's included and how to book your tyre change
What the tyre hotel includes, why the change is booked a day in advance, how washing and the packages work, and tips for storing tyres at home.
When to change your tyres and what to check at the same time
The legal winter tyre period, tread depth limits and checking your tyres before the change, plus tyre changes, rim work and our tyre packages.
Washing your car in winter: salt and slush off without scratches
Why salt should be washed off even in winter, the order to wash off winter grime without scratches, and how to keep door seals from freezing shut.
Wax or coating: which is right for your car?
Wax or coating? The choice depends on how long you will keep the car, how often you want to bring it in for protection and how it gets washed.
Interior cleaning: what the three levels include and how to choose
Light, full or total: what each interior cleaning includes, when each one is enough, and what the extra services for pet hair and odours do.
Three hand washes: what each includes and how to choose
Basic, Premium and Seasonal wash side by side: what each one includes, what a wash does not include and how to choose the right wash for the situation.