To avoid rusting, it’s best to wash your car often, even in the winter since road salt, snow, and moisture buildup can wear on your car. If your car is parked for the winter, you should still tend to it while it’s parked. Investing the time and energy is worth it compared the potential repairs you may need later.
Hand Washing
Cleaning your car is part of making it last longer and increasing fuel economy. Before washing, you’ll want to make sure you have enough time so you aren’t rushing. To start, an initial rinse is best for getting rid of any grime on the surface. Make sure to wash the wheels separately. If you start with the wheels or continue to work back and forth, your sponge could pick up debris that can damage your paint. Using a back and forth motion, rinse the car using medium pressure.
You can leave your car to air dry, but to avoid water spots, you’ll want to wipe it down with a fine chamois. If it’s fairly warm and one end starts to dry, you can re-wet the surface and wipe it down. Waxing isn’t necessary, but it can help protect the car’s finish. Airborne chemicals, tree sap, and bugs can wear on your paint if they’re left for a long time, and a coat of wax provides a protective coat that helps all of your hard work last longer.
Commercial Washing
There are a few reasons why hand washing may be out of the question. In some places, if there’s a drought, it may be unwise to wash your car yourself. Whether it’s because of mobility, a drought, or just disinterest, there are commercial washes available. Commercial car washes often have high water recovery systems, which allows them to work more efficiently without wasting as much water.
Also, drive-in car washes have bays with power nozzles. This feature will wash underneath your car and knock loose chunks of grime that may have built up. This is also great for getting into any nooks and crannies you may miss.
Winter Weather
You should try to clean your car often except when temperatures are below freezing. Try to aim for temperatures above 32 degrees. If you do wash your car while the weather is at or below freezing, make sure the car has enough time to warm up before you begin. Also, if you can, leave the heat on for a moment to keep the water from freezing immediately. Consider wearing waterproof gloves for this process.
In addition to the exterior, cleaning the interior is just as important. Cleaning the interior helps mats and seats last longer as well. After picking up loose paper and trash, you’ll want to vacuum the carpets. During the winter, you track in salt, snow, and sand, which can eventually cause your floorboards to rust. It may be easier to switch to rubber mats during the winter season. These are easier to clean and will protect your investment.
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