Car Wash Tips for Spring

Your car takes a beating over the winter. Slushy snow, road salt, and dirt wreak havoc on your vehicle all season and cold temps make it difficult to maintain regular car washes. Spring is the perfect time to give your vehicle a thorough car wash. You don’t need to shell out extra cash on a professional wash and detail service. Spring Clean your vehicle with these car wash tips.

Wash Away Winter

Road salt can quickly build up on your car and lead to corrosion.  Use a pressure washer to blast away salt and debris from your vehicle’s undercarriage, wheel wells, around the bumper and grill. Then clean wheels and tires using a specialty cleaner that can penetrate brake dust. Use car shampoo and a clean, soft sponge to thoroughly clean the exterior of your vehicle working from the top down.  Finish with a thorough rinse with clean water.

Protect Your Paint

Waxing adds a layer of protection from UV rays, bugs, and bird dropping that you’re sure to encounter this spring. If you aren’t able to wax often look for a synthetic sealant that offers long-lasting protection. Start with a thin coating and completely buff out the product before applying an additional layer. You’ll know all the wax has been buffed out when you no longer see a haze on the paint.

Wash Windows

Choose an automotive glass cleaner that is tint safe and residue free like Invisible Glass. Residues from soaps, scents, and dyes form streaks on glass and attract grime to the surface. Work in sections spraying the glass cleaner directly to the glass. Wipe the exterior glass in an up and down direction using a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Move to the interior glass and wipe in a side to side motion. This pattern will allow you to see any areas you’ve missed.

Interior Touch Ups

Slushy snow and winter boots bring a lot of dirt and grime into your vehicle’s interior. First toss out trash and anything that doesn’t belong in your ride. Then vacuum out dirt and debris. Spot treat carpets with a carpet and upholstery cleaner. Use a trim shine product to clean and restore the dash and console. Avoid soaps and other products that can dry out the surface and cause it to fade. A tooth brush and q-tips are great tools for getting to small crevices.  

These spring cleaning car wash tips will help your vehicle look its best and maintain its optimal performance. Now put down those windows and enjoy the warmer temperatures this spring!