The winter takes a toll on the average car. Cold mornings, icy roads and changing weather conditions can make life very difficult for cars during the winter months.
It’s also very difficult to keep cars clean and presentable during cold snaps. Slush, snow, road salt and dirt can make vehicles barely recognisable at times, which is why it’s always best to be prepared.
By taking a few preventative steps, you can reduce the time you spend cleaning your vehicle when the mercury is at its lowest.
1. Wax regularly
Waxing doesn’t just protect against dirt, it also protects against the corrosive properties of road salt. Choose a quality car wax that contains a polymer compound design to act as a sealant. If you can give your vehicle a thorough waxing in mid November, that should see you through the whole of the winter.
2. Protect your tyres
Tyres and wheels are at the coalface of wintry road conditions, so it’s important to give them the protection they need. There are tyre dressings on the market that provide a protective film — guarding against damage, dirt and the wearing effects of road salt. These agents can be rubbed or sprayed onto wheels and tyres in just a few minutes, but they provide days of additional protection.
3. Wash with snow foam
Snow foams are cleaning agents that are specifically designed to remove the combination of dirt, grime and road salt that accumulate on cars during the winter. You simply apply the foam, allow a few minutes of contact time, and rinse off with a hose. You can reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning your car during the winter by combining a car wax with the use of snow foam.
4. Buy a pressure washer
If you want to give your car regular cleans throughout the winter period, invest in a pressure washer. You won’t need any additional cleaning agents, and you’ll be able to remove the worst of the dirt on your vehicle in just a few minutes. However, it’s important to check that the paint on your car is compatible with pressure washing. Using a pressure washer might cause salt to penetrate paint — which could result in premature corrosion.
5. Dry your car after washing
Most people don’t have the time or energy to dry their car after washing it — particularly when the weather is freezing. However, leaving your car wet and then driving it away can lead to doors, locks and windows freezing shut.
Top tip: Use a leaf blower to dry your car in a hurry.
6. Protect your car
If you have a garage, make sure you store your car in it during the winter. However, it’s usually a bad idea to heat the garage, as this can increase the moisture in the air and actually speed up corrosion. Always make sure that the temperature inside your garage is more or less the same as it is outside.
7. Fit mud flaps
A huge amount of dirty slush and salt is thrown up by car tyres during the winter. This can lead to heavy accumulations around the wheel arches and doors. To slow this process down, fit a quality set of mud-flaps. Just remember to clean them when it’s time to clean your car.
8. Drive with care
You should always be reducing your speeds and giving yourself more time to make manoeuvres during cold snaps. In doing so, you’ll also be reducing the salty spray that’s thrown up from your wheels. And by maintaining safe distances between you and the cars in front of you, the front of your own vehicle won’t be sprayed with dirt, grit and stones.
There’s nothing you can do to completely protect your car from salt, dirt and grime during the winter. But by taking a few extra precautions, the impact of the colder weather can be minimised.
