2018 Toyota Corolla Owner’s Manual — Maintenance and care

Working from top to bottom, liberally apply water to the vehicle body, wheel wells and underside of the vehicle to remove any dirt and dust.

Wash the vehicle body using a sponge or soft cloth, such as a chamois.

For hard-to-remove marks, use car wash soap and rinse thoroughly with water.

Wipe away any water.

Wax the vehicle when the waterproof coating deteriorates.

If water does not bead on a clean surface, apply wax when the vehicle body is cool.

Automatic car washes

Fold the mirrors before washing the vehicle. Start washing from the front of the vehicle. Make sure to extend the mirrors before driving.

Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle surface and harm your vehicle's paint.

Vehicles with a rear spoiler: In certain automatic car washes, the rear spoiler may interfere with machine operation. This may prevent the vehicle from being cleaned properly or result in damage to the rear spoiler.

High pressure car washes

Do not allow the nozzles of the car wash to come within close proximity of the windows.

Before using the car wash, check that the fuel filler door on your vehicle is closed properly.

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When using a car wash (vehicles with a smart key system)

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If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effective range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In that case, follow the fol- lowing correction procedures to wash the vehicle:

Place the key in a position 6 ft. (2 m) or more separate from the vehicle while the vehicle is being washed. (Take care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)

Set the electronic key to battery-saving mode to disable the smart key sys- tem. (P. 124)

Aluminum wheels (if equipped)

Remove any dirt immediately by using a neutral detergent.

Wash detergent off with water immediately after use.

To protect the paint from damage, make sure to observe the following pre- cautions.

Do not use acidic, alkaline or abrasive detergent

Do not use hard brushes

Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, such as after driv- ing or parking in hot weather

Bumpers

Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.

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Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner. Wipe dirty surfaces

with a cloth dampened with lukewarm water.

If dirt cannot be removed, wipe it off with a soft cloth dampened with neutral detergent diluted to approximately 1%.

Wring out any excess water from the cloth and thoroughly wipe off remaining traces of detergent and water.

Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner.

Wipe it off with a soft cloth dampened with neutral detergent diluted to approximately 1%.

Wring out any excess water from the cloth and thoroughly wipe off remaining traces of detergent and water.

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Shampooing the carpets

There are several commercial foaming-type cleaners available. Use a sponge or brush to apply the foam. Rub in overlapping circles. Do not use water. Wipe dirty surfaces and let them dry. Excellent results are obtained by keep- ing the carpet as dry as possible.

Seat belts

Clean with mild soap and lukewarm water using a cloth or sponge. Also check the belts periodically for excessive wear, fraying or cuts.

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