Harsh winter weather can do a number on your car’s paint job. Salt and gravel, used to treat roads, compounds the problem with additional potential for damage. Even the smallest scratch in the paint can expose the surface underneath, making it more likely to oxidize or develop rust. Without proper care, you could wind up facing a hefty bill for bodywork come springtime. Avoid this unnecessary expense by taking a proactive approach to winter car maintenance.
Don’t Wait for Winter to Prep Your Car
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Winter can roar in when you least expect it, so start getting your car ready in late fall before the first snow.
- Wash the car well: Use soap formulated specifically for cars, and be sure to remove all visible dirt while washing.
- Get rid of stuck-on grime with a high-pressure sprayer: This strips away dirt without dragging it across the paint so that no scratches or streaks are left behind.
- Wipe the car dry with a microfiber cloth before applying a polymer wax: Waxing provides a barrier against the damaging effects of snow, ice and road treatments. Use spray wax during the winter to refresh this barrier as necessary.
- After the wax has dried: Apply a paint sealant or coating for an extra layer of protection. Sealants smooth out the paint surface, making it harder for grime to stick.
Performing these preparatory steps provides as much protection as possible for your car’s paint throughout the winter season.
Don’t Skimp on Winter Washing
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It doesn’t take long for a car’s surface to pick up a layer of dirt and salt from winter roads. You need to remove this as soon as you can to prevent damage, so plan to wash your car at least once a week.
Cleaning the car regularly is necessary if you want to maintain the paint job.
In addition to weekly washing, you can protect your car’s exterior by practicing smart snow and ice removal, and being mindful of the effects of salt and gravel.
Managing Ice and Snow
When it comes to cleaning off your car after a storm, there are three big “don’ts” to keep in mind:
- Don’t use a snow shovel to “dig out” your car. The hard edges of both metal and plastic shovels can gouge your paint.
- Don’t use a regular scraper to remove ice from painted surfaces. Scrapers are designed for window glass and will damage the body of the car.
- Don’t pour hot water on the car in an attempt to accelerate ice removal. The sudden temperature change may cause glass to shatter, and the excess water could re-freeze on the car’s surface.
The Best Way to Protect the Car is to Find Cover
The easiest way to avoid these problems is to park your car in a garage or other covered area. If you can’t, invest in a car cover to prevent ice and snow from coming in contact with the paint.
Image courtesy of Phelyan Sanjoin on Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
How to Properly Clean Your Car When Having Cover is Not an Option
When you can’t avoid getting buried in snow, it’s important to use the right tools and methods to clean the car. Avoid using a broom, as the bristles will leave streaks and swirls on the paint and could pull debris along the surface, resulting in deep scratches. Instead, invest in a soft snow brush or a foam brush to clear snow away.
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Ice is easier to remove when the car is warm, so budget time to start the car in advance. Depending on how thick the coating is, you might be able to let the ice melt on its own. If not, don’t push large ice chunks off with the snow brush. Instead, lift them away by hand to prevent scraping. It’s important to completely clean off the car before driving it.
Anything that slides along the car’s surface can cause damage to the paint.
If there’s dirt underneath the snow, the results will be even worse.
The Dangers of Salt and Gravel
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Roads are treated with salt and gravel throughout the winter to keep them clear and increase traction. Every time you drive on such roads, salt collects in vulnerable areas of the car:
- In the engine compartment
- Along the lower trim
- On the inside edges of the doors
- In wheel wells
Rinse these areas thoroughly during your weekly washing sessions. Never wipe salt off the car, or you’ll risk scraping the paint with the abrasive edges of the crystals. Gravel, with its hard, irregular surfaces, can cause similar damage.
Image courtesy of William Murphy on Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
To minimize exposure to salt and gravel, wait for a while after the roads have been treated before driving. When you do head out, avoid puddles that may contain high amounts of salt. Drive at a reasonable speed and leave a good distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you. This prevents too much salt or gravel from getting kicked up and sticking to, or scratching, your paint.
Post-Winter Car Care
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Wash your car thoroughly, including the undercarriage, to remove any remaining dirt, salt or gravel that collected during your winter excursions.
The first sign of warm temperatures is the perfect time to give your vehicle some extra attention.
Use a buffing compound to brighten up the paint and finish off with a coating of wax. Because there still may be residual salt on the roads, it’s important to continue with routine cleanings to minimize damage.
By getting your car ready to face the winter before nasty weather hits, keeping a consistent schedule of washing and removal of accumulated ice and snow, you preserve the appearance of the paint job and the integrity of the body. Failure to perform routine maintenance can result in damage that’s unattractive to look at and costly to repair.
How do you make sure that your car’s paint comes through the winter looking just as good as it did at the start of the season?
Let us know in the comments below!