Professional fleet valeting on a regular schedule does the heavy lifting. But between visits, there are simple practices that fleet managers can communicate to drivers to maintain vehicle condition and maximise the value of each service.
For Fleet Managers: Setting Expectations
Driver Vehicle Care Policy
A brief, clear vehicle care policy sets expectations without being onerous. Key points to include:
- Remove rubbish daily: Encourage drivers to clear food packaging, drinks containers, and receipts at the end of each working day
- Report damage promptly: Small chips and scratches are cheaper to fix early. Include a simple reporting mechanism in your fleet management process
- Avoid eating in vehicles: Where practical, this single habit prevents the majority of interior staining and odour issues
- Use floor mats: Ensure all fleet vehicles have quality floor mats fitted. These protect the carpet from the worst of the dirt and are easily cleaned during valeting
Seasonal Guidance
Share seasonal reminders with drivers:
- Winter: Remove excess mud from footwells before it dries and becomes embedded. Report salt-damaged paintwork early.
- Spring: Alert drivers to tree sap and pollen season. PureShield ceramic protection resists sap bonding, but prompt attention is still beneficial.
- Summer: Insect residue is easier to remove when fresh. If the vehicle will not be valeted for a week or more, a quick wipe of the front bumper and windscreen prevents baking.
- Autumn: Fallen leaves trapped in door shuts and under wipers should be removed to prevent staining and moisture retention.
For Drivers: Quick Interim Care
If drivers want to touch up their vehicle between professional valets, these guidelines prevent well-intentioned but potentially harmful cleaning:
Do
- Use a clean, damp microfibre cloth to wipe bird droppings or sap (fresh contamination is easier and safer to remove)
- Shake out floor mats regularly
- Use a hand-held vacuum for crumbs and debris
- Keep the boot or load area tidy
Do Not
- Use household cleaning products on vehicle surfaces (they may damage paint or trim)
- Use paper towels or old rags (these can scratch paintwork)
- Attempt to scrub dried-on contamination (wait for the professional valet)
- Wash the vehicle at an automated car wash (the brushes will scratch through the ceramic protection)
The PureShield Advantage Between Services
Vehicles treated with PureShield ceramic protection during their last professional valet benefit from:
- Self-cleaning effect: Rain water beads and runs off, carrying loose dirt with it
- Reduced adhesion: Contaminants bond less readily to the ceramic surface, making interim wipes more effective and safer
- UV protection: Continued paint protection regardless of sun exposure between services
This means ceramic-protected fleet vehicles maintain their appearance for longer between scheduled valets — reducing the temptation for drivers to resort to sub-optimal cleaning methods.
Optimising Your Valeting Schedule
If fleet vehicles consistently look tired before their next scheduled valet, it may indicate that the service frequency needs adjusting rather than that drivers need to clean vehicles themselves. MMCC can review your fleet data and recommend frequency adjustments based on actual condition trends.