SUMMIT TWP — A splash, a spill or dirty boots could all be the culprit for a dirty vehicle.

Some think they'll just vacuum later or maybe pick up that fancy oxidizing carpet cleaner they heard about on TV.

But that tiny stain goes unnoticed, and over time it is built upon until the owner gives up and just accepts his vehicle as plain dirty.

Keeping a vehicle clean takes some work, according to Rose Mainhart, the owner and sole employee of Top Notch Auto Shine.

Mainhart said there's nothing wrong with taking it through a car wash and using the coin-op vacuums, but most times that is not enough to prevent long-term filth from creeping into the carpets and upholstery. She said the exterior needs to be protected by waxing on a regular basis.

Mainhart said the best way to keep a clean vehicle is to have it professionally cleaned inside and out at least once per year.

Mainhart said one thing a professional has that the typical customer doesn't are the right tools.

“The average person can keep their cars clean, but if you don't have all the little tools and gadgets, it's a little harder to do,” she said.

Mainhart washes each vehicle before going over every square inch of the interior with an array of cleaners and brushes, which line the wall of a cabinet like a doctor's surgery tray.

She uses a combination of brushes with tough and soft bristles and different sized heads to clean out tiny nooks in the upholstery. She also blasts the same nooks and the vents with compressed air to clean out dust and light-weight material that evaded the brushes.

The interior alone takes hours, and sometimes she puts more time into pulling out garbage. She said once she filled six grocery bags with trash from one vehicle. The mess cost her two hours, before she could even start her routine.

Mainhart said the once-per-year suggestion may be especially important for people with children. She said she has worked on some cars where she found rotten or moldy food under seats or between cushions.

“It's definitely nice to get all the food out and clean it up nice,” she said.

Once finished inside, she uses a clay bar to remove particles clinging to the outside clear coat. She said salt residue and caked-on tar are the usual culprits, and a standard car wash isn't enough to take them off.

Ridding a vehicle of the imperfections is important for the protection of its clear coat and for properly applying wax.

Mainhart also uses a buffer, which she said most of her customers prefer to hand waxing because it can further restore the shine to a vehicle's paint.

“It's so much easier to wash, if it's got a nice wax,” she said. “Some people just don't have the time or they don't take the time.”

Mainhart said detailing vehicles takes six to 12 hours, and most people don't have that kind of time.

“You gotta have patience to do this,” she said.

Mainhart said she does her work because she loves cars. She guesses that love came from growing up during a time where muscle and sports cars were hot and trucks were reliable.

“I've always liked a neat looking pickup,” she said. “(and) I just like looking at a nice sports car.”

Mainhart said she's had the opportunity to work on Corvettes, Mustangs and other vehicles that she has always admired. She said she appreciates the opportunity to do so, and opening her business in 2012 has helped her achieve a constantly renewing goal.

“I'm kind of a car nut,” she said. “I just like keeping cars nice.”