Tips For Washing Your Car During Winter
Publié par Zunsport - 3rd May, 2024
Winter can be hard on cars, and it can also be tough for those washing them. It is important to keep your car clean during the cold months to protect it from water, grime, dirt and road salt.
You can avoid mechanical problems and winter damage by knowing how often to wash your car in winter and paying particular attention to the exterior, the undercarriage and internal carpets and fittings.
First, Prepare Your Car For Winter
Ahead of the onset of freezing conditions, youcan take advantage of a fine autumnal day to prepare your vehicle for thewinter months. Thoroughly wash and dry your car and apply agood quality, protective wax. Apply a thin layer to a panel at a time and buffit away with a soft cloth or chamois.
Arm Yourself With The Right Equipment
Car washing can feel like a chore, particularlywhen it's cold outside. You can make things a lot easier for yourself by havingthe right equipment. The basics required for winter car washing are:
- A quality jet wash
- Car shampoo, wheel cleaner, tyre shine, polishand wax
- Two buckets
- A soft sponge or wash mitt, microfibre clothsand a wheel brush
Wash Your Car Fortnightly During Winter
If you have a garage, use it during the winterto maintain the condition of your vehicle. This is particularly important ifyou own a classic car that will have a less advanced paint finish than modernmotors.
You should wash your car every two weeks duringthe winter. This will ensure that contaminants such as salt are not settled onthe body and grille for too long. Not washing them away could have adetrimental impact on the paintwork and could possibly cause rust.
Get Your Car Wash Process Right
It may not seem like rocket science, but it isreally helpful to follow the correct process for how to wash your car inwinter. 1. Apply wheel cleaner and allow it to soak in.
2. Remove larger areas of dirt and grime with ajet wash, paying particular attention to the wheels, which will often be themuckiest areas.
3. Using a bucket of water mixed with shampoo,handwash the bodywork, working on one section or panel at a time.
4. Use a second bucket filled with clean waterto freshen up the sponge or mitt before refilling it with shampoo. This ensuresany dirt is not simply re-smeared onto the car and helps avoid the risk ofscratches.
5. Give the car another good blast with thepressure washer.
6. Dry the car thoroughly with a microfibrecloth.
7. Apply a polish or wax.
Don’t Neglect The Interior
It is a good idea to vacuum the car’s interiorevery two weeks. This sucks up any crumbs and keeps on top of dried dirt. Moisture in the winter can lead to condensationand fogging on the car's windows. Over time, this can result in internaldamage. Keep the interior dry and apply an anti-fogging solution to theinterior of the windows for safety reasons.
It is a good idea to use rubber mats during thewinter as these can be hosed down. Remember to dry the mats properly each timeto prevent moisture and misting from affecting the inside of your car.
Perhaps most importantly of all, during thecolder months, use warm water to make things easier on your hands and equipyourself with a warm coat, a woolly hat, plenty of layers and some protectivegloves.
If you're looking for high-quality car grille to protect your vehicle, take a look at our range at Zunsport today.
