Although we may love the idea of a beautiful White Christmas, your car sure doesn’t. If you’re driving on the road often, your vehicle may pick up lots of dirt, salt, rocks and other debris hidden in the snow.
Here are 3 ways to keep the exterior and interior of your car clean this winter:
1. Paint Protector
Winter weather conditions take a toll on the exterior of your car. Just like when you wear gloves, a hat, and coats to endure the snow and cold, your car also deserves some added protection.
Your vehicle’s paint protects the metal from outside elements like ice, salt and debris. Using paint protector will keep the paint in shape and ensure your vehicle is not exposed to corrosive properties (washmenow.ca).
Now is the perfect time to add a layer of protection to your car before the snow and salt start hitting the road. You can either purchase a paint protector and apply it yourself or take your car to a detail shop.
3. A Car Wash Goes a Long Way
One element of winter driving that causes the most exterior damage to your vehicle is road salt. Salt on the road does have benefits for safer driving, however it can cause some damage to your exterior over time.
In-N-Out-Car-Wash explains that “Salt can get into all the cracks and crevasses of your car, waiting for the spring when the weather warms up and it actively starts to produce rust and corrosion.”
Washing your car throughout the winter season is a great way to keep the bottom and sides of your car clean and prevent rust or deterioration.
There are a few options to choose from when washing your car this winter:
- A single wash at your local gas station, estimated between $7.99-$14.99 CAD depending on the service
- Specialty car wash shops such as In-N-Out-Car-Wash
- Season passes offered at local gas stations
3. Don’t Forget to Look Down
Salt, snow, mud and dirt not only make a mess of your exterior but also collect inside. When getting into a vehicle, most of us are focused on getting away from the cold that we don’t pay attention to the mess we bring in.
If you haven’t done so already, look into purchasing rubber floor mats for your car. Even though most cars have a rubber base, a mat will make cleaning out dirt and salt much easier and allow you to keep it clean more often.
Tip: To clean the mats themselves, use a rim and tire cleaner to get rid of the stains the salt leaves behind.
