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Bright green car being washed. Photo ID 58182896 © Blackay | Dreamstime.com
Winter grime can cause a spring mess that may permanently damage your vehicle.
For instance, road salt and grime can rust undercarriage of their car. They can also damage the interior of your vehicle.
Take some time to remove the grime of winter driving and give your vehicle a showroom shine inside and out. Here are tips for owners as you ready your car for spring driving:
- Wash the body of the car to remove salt and grime. If it is heavily soiled, take your vehicle to an automated car wash.
- Clean with two buckets–one with car wash suds and the other with regular water for rinsing. Dry one area at a time, and rinse your drying towels each time you wide down an area of your vehicle.
- Use washing mitts and drying towels. They are gentle on painted surfaces and won’t scratch.
- Wash headlights, windshields and the inside windows of your vehicle.
- Apply a coat of ceramic-based wax to keep it looking great throughout spring. Traditional carnauba waxes also are safe and effective at providing a show-room shine. Either way, a coat of wax will help prevent damage to vehicle surfaces caused by grime, bird droppings, spills, sap and airborne contaminants.
- Use a pressure washer to clean the undercarriage, where much of the salt and grime builds up.
- Use the right brushes for different areas of the car. Buy quality brushes specifically made for the wheels, wheel wells, lugnuts and inner barrels. Brake dust is corrosive. Do not use the tools or towels from wheels on any other surface of your vehicle.
- Wipe down windshields inside and out to remove haze. Use a window designed for automobile glass to prevent streaks and hazing. Visibility is important to preventing accidents by seeing the road and other drivers clearly.
- Give your carpets some love. Winter grime from soiled clothes and shoes can cause odors and mold. Use a vacuum and solutions designed for automobile carpets rid lift away grime and keep your vehicle cabin healthy.
- Invest in rubberized floor mats to carpet during spring adventures.
- Clean the upholstery of your car. Seats and vinyl door wells are easy to forget, but they can become a mess during winter when we eat and drink in our cars. If you’ve got a four-legged travel companion, upholstery can become soiled from dirty paws.
Use a cleaner designed for automobile interiors. Spray cleaner on a microfiber towel and then wipe down vehicle surfaces.
Winter road grime on white car. Photo ID 66695962 © Bundit Wajaratana | Dreamstime.com
- Clean and wax those wheels. Rain water, sludge and salt will tarnish alloy or chrome wheels, creating stains and pits. Make sure the cleaner you use is specifically made to remove brake dust. After cleaning, apply a coat of car wax to prevent sediments from damaging wheel surfaces.
- Invest in a new cabin air filter to reduce the amount of allergens and dust entering your cabin. This also helps keep your vehicle cabin healthier for you and your passengers.
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