2008 Volvo S40 Owner's Manual - Page 174

NOTE When washing the car, remember to remove dirt from the drain holes in the doors and sills. Exterior components Volvo recommends the use of special cleaning products, available at your Volvo retailer, for cleaning colored plastic, rubber, or ornamental components such as chromed strips on the exterior of your vehicle. The instructions for using these products should be followed carefully.Solvents or stain removers should not be used. CAUTION Avoid waxing or polishing plastic or rubber components Polishing chromed strips can wear away or damage the surface Polishes containing abrasive substances should not be used 193 08 Car care Washing and cleaning the car NOTE During high pressure washing, the spray mouthpiece must never be closer to the vehicle than 13" (30 cm). Do not spray into the locks. Dirt, snow, etc., on the headlights can reduce lighting capacity considerably. Clean the headlights regularly, for example when refueling. When washing or steam cleaning the engine, avoid spraying water or steam directly on the electrical components or toward the rear side of the engine. Special moonroof cautions: Always close the moonroof and sun shade before washing your vehicle. Never use abrasive cleaning agents on the moonroof. Never use wax on the rubber seals around the moonroof Automatic washing - simple and quick We do NOT recommend washing your car in an automatic wash during the first six months (because the paint will not have hardened sufficiently). An automatic wash is a simple and quick way to clean your car, but it is worth remembering that it may not be as thorough as when you yourself go over the car with sponge and water. Keeping the underbody clean is most important, especially in the winter. Some automatic washers do not have facilities for washing the underbody. CAUTION Before driving into an automatic car wash, turn off the optional rain sensor to avoid damaging the windshield wipers. Make sure that side view mirrors, auxiliary lamps, etc, are secure, and that any antenna(s) are retracted or removed. Otherwise there is risk of the machine dislodging them. Chromed wheels : Clean chrome-plated wheels using the same detergents used for the body of the vehicle. Aggressive wheel-cleaning agents can permanently stain chrome-plated wheels. WARNING When the car is driven immediately after being washed, apply the brakes several times in order to remove any