Winter is coming! Time to step up your game!
Winters in the US can be harsh on our vehicles. Road salts are widely used around this time of year to keep drivers safe from slippery, icy, and snowy conditions. However, many people are unaware that these road salts can oxidize your car’s paint, destroying its finish, increasing rust, and even impairing driving performance. Because they retain a lot of moisture, doors, fenders, hoods, and tailgates are the most prone to rust, ruining the perfectly good exterior of your hard-earned investment.
So, how can we avoid this in the future? We’ve compiled a list of winter car care tips to help you prepare your vehicle for the colder months:
1. Wax your car exterior Wax acts as an invisible shield to protect your car’s paint. When the weather turns cold, you have to deal with everything from decaying leaves to snow, ice, dirt, grime, and road salt. They all stick to your car and are far more challenging to remove than most summer dirt. Each of them has the potential to harm your paint, hence it is best to wax your car to provide a good layer of protection. 2. Ceramic Coating your car surface Ceramic coatings are going to make cleanup much easier during the winter months when time is short to get the car washed up on those infrequently warmer days. It’s also going to provide a barrier of protection against the harsh elements. Because of their hydrophobic and self-cleaning properties, Feynlab ceramic coatings will be your go-to this winter! These properties provide a permanent layer of protection to your car paint by forming a chemical bond with it, causing it to repel not only water, but also other elements such as oils, fallout, dirt, mud, road grime, and other build-ups from forming on your car surface during the winter. 3. Use a good car shampoo Washing your car frequently is the best way to protect it from the corrosive effects of salt and water. Use a Ph neutral car shampoo that won’t harm the pre-existing layers of wax and ceramic coating that protect your car because it is chemically neutral and gentle. By washing off the salt regularly, you help prevent the development of rust. 4. Invest in some good winter tyres One of the most difficult aspects of driving in winter is not only the cold, but also the layer of snow and ice that freezes and almost never completely leaves the roadway. As your vehicle travels over snow and ice, a thin layer of water and slush forms between your tire and the road, causing hydroplaning. Because all-season and summer tires are not intended to be used in constant wet/slushy conditions, their tread design is not primarily intended to evacuate snow and water. Winter tires are designed with grooves and siping that are specifically designed to evacuate snow, water, and slush. As a result, you’ll have maximum contact with the road surface, allowing you to better control your vehicle. 5. Avoid parking outdoors Avoid parking on the street. Plows and salt trucks will pass at all hours to keep the roads clear during the winter. You don’t want your vehicle to get snow and salt dumped on it. Parking on the street also leaves the car vulnerable to damage caused by other cars driving on the icy road. To protect the paint, and the entire vehicle, it’s best to park in a garage or, at least, in the driveway. 6. Get a good car cover If your car will be sitting outside for an extended period of time during the winter, cover it to protect it from the elements. A car cover designed specifically for cold weather protection will keep excess moisture and ice off the paint. It will also reduce the wear and tear caused by scraping ice and brushing snow off the vehicle. These types of covers are popular among car owners because they save time when getting the car ready in the morning. 7. Avoid using hard ice scrapers and brushes Some car detailing and auto accessory stores put out an elaborate selection of ice scrapers and brushes at the start of winter. However, these harsh tools are not good for car paint in the long run. Scrapers and hard brushes can scratch the car and cause micro-abrasions on the paint’s surface. Instead, use a soft-bristled brush or a snow removal broom with a foam head. Following these steps should help you stay ahead of the mess during the winter months on your car and prevent a high detailing bill in the spring from months of neglect!