Advice Requested: Keeping Rental Car Clean

harry506 · Post by **harry506** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:22 am

This year we are renting a car in Reno (we have driven our own car in previous years, but have to fly out this time due to time constraints). We'd love any suggestions/tips you have on keeping it clean. We're a bit worried after hearing stories of huge cleaning fees (we're renting from Dollar). I remember an article a few years back that recommended taping tarps down over the seats.... anything else you can think of? THX!

EB · Post by EB » Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:25 am

Start with the assumption that you're going to have to get it cleaned before returning it - washed on the outside, vacuumed on the inside.

Then, all you have to do is KEEP THE DOORS CLOSED and you'll be fine. Take EVERYTHING out that you'll need then keep it closed the rest of the time.

Don't use the glove box as a hotel safe.
Don't use the backseat for pillow and sleeping bag storage.
Don't use the dashboard to make chili (however delicious.)

The only way the playa can get into your car is if you open the door, so keep the door closed.

Trust me, I've learned this the HARD WAY.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:11 am

What EB said.........

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:50 pm

Cover the air vent intakes before you come on the playa too.

You can buy a bag to roll your car into too.
A little pricey unless you will reuse it.
The ultimate playa condom though.

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 2:02 pm

gyre wrote:Cover the air vent intakes before you come on the playa too.

You can buy a bag to roll your car into too.
A little pricey unless you will reuse it.
The ultimate playa condom though.

Noooooo! Don't tarp/bag your car! The tarp moves in the wind and the grit of the playa dust with rub the paint off! Unless you drive to the playa IN the bag, there will be dust in it.

Badger

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 2:08 pm

For anyone who's never covered a car, you do need to pad it and/or strap the cover tightly.
I use ratchet tiedowns to hold covers in place even here.
I'm in a land of no wind and a soft cover will even rub paint.
A bag will prevent cab penetration of dust.

Don Gately · Post by **Don Gately** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 9:33 am

[quote="gyre"]Cover the air vent intakes before you come on the playa too.
[/quote]

Does this refer to the vents inside the part of the car where people and cargo sit, or to some vents under the hood?

hsdavis · Post by **hsdavis** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 10:00 am

There are numerous places to get your car washed after leaving the playa. The local kids in Gerlach will do it for you as a fund raiser for their school. you can also head down 447 and there are a few more stops where they will take car of the washing.
I also bring a microfiber cloth to get the dust off the dashboard.
In my experiance, the car rental places look for hints that the car has been to BM and I have always tried to keep that a secret. I think the biggest thing they look for is the number of miles that the car drove for the week. 250 miles----you went to Burning Man, eh?
Clean outside, wipe down the inside with a DRY cloth. Wet will turn the playa dust to a muddy mess. Vacuum if nessisary and you are home free.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 12:20 pm

Don Gately wrote:
gyre wrote:Cover the air vent intakes before you come on the playa too.
Does this refer to the vents inside the part of the car where people and cargo sit, or to some vents under the hood?

I was talking about the ventilation into the car, ac, heat and so on.
Usually these vents are on the cowling in front of the windscreen.
Some people do cover the engine air filter intake while the car is parked.
A lot of people change the engine filter as soon as they can after leaving.
I think you should at least check it.

Angel Ben · Post by **Angel Ben** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:27 pm

I have to rent a car every year, and I've tried everything from taping plastic down on the entire interior, to having it professionally cleaned, to washing and vacuuming it myself at a DIY brushless coin-op machine.

I've never had a cleaning fine from any of them, and the DIY coin-op machine was the cheapest (under $5 total, IIRC), so I'll be doing that again this year. If you're feeling lazy, you could take it somewhere to get washed for you, but they always charge me an "extremely dirty" extra fee and it can cost well in excess of $50 with tip and everything.