As the temperature drops and the days shorten, winter strikes fear in almost all car enthusiasts. With the plummeting temperatures and risk of ice and salt on the roads, the last thing drivers want to do is to stay outside to clean the car. But winter is exactly the season and the time of year when you need to keep your car as grime and contaminant-free as possible.
Moreover, if you take the cleanliness of your car for granted, the winter can devalue your car dramatically by corroding the bodywork. For that matter, we have come up with a detailed guide that will help you to clean your car easily and in the safest way for your paintwork.
Follow our steps on how to wash your car correctly this winter
The mixture of grit and salt is the real hero that is used to keep the roads ice-free. That being said, it's not a hero when it comes to cars. It can cover your car with a permanent layer of filth on top of your car's shiny surface. In order to keep your vehicle from contamination and damage, follow the guide below. It will allow you to maintain your car's paint and overall condition. So, let's jump into it.
Prepare
You want to ensure that your car's paint job can deal with everything that winter can throw at it. Regardless of your car's type and size, if you want to keep its appearance tip-top, the easiest and quickest way is to add a wax layer or protective coating. You can use any good quality wax once you get your car washed and polished.
It will allow your car to deal with the road salt by keeping it from entering the car's paint job. The wax basically creates a protective layer that allows your car to withstand all the harsh weather conditions of winter.
Equip Yourself
Cleaning a car, especially in winter, is not a piece of cake, but the following checklist will definitely help you to make the process considerably easier.
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Cleaning Process
Keep in mind that if you own a supercar or any collectable, then your car cleaning process is incomplete without full car detailing. On the other hand, if you own a regular family car, consider following the points listed below. It will allow your car to combat everything that winter brings.
Pre Wash
Using a powerful pre-wash such a snow foam will make sure the grime and dirt on your paintwork is lubricated. It's best to use a Pressure washer with a mixer bottle / snow foam attachment to ensure you get the correct level of dilution of the product and coverage on your vehicle.
Snow foam is a thick shampoo like a solution that is sprayed all over the car body, wheels and wheel arches. Leave it to dwell for 5-10 minutes. During this time, you will see it slide down the car and remove the top level of dirt. Most of our Snow Foam will remove a high percentage of top layer dirt and grime from your car without even needing to us a wash mitt.
Rinse
Ideally using a pressure washer with a lance attachment. Clean off all of the pre-wash snow-foam working your way from the top to the bottom of the vehicle, so contaminants are washed down to the bottom of the vehicle and onto the ground.
Body
Grab the buckets that you gathered with water and shampoo. Using one bucket for applying shampoo and the other for rinsing. This prevents grit or containments from going back onto the pant work. Start washing your car section by section or panel by panel until the whole body is clean. Then use the pressure washer to clean the residue. Don't forget to clean the wash mitts with clean water once they get dirty. It allows you to keep the body from scratches that the small debris particle can cause while rinsing.
Wheels
Taking advantage of wheel cleaner that is designed to sit and dwell on the wheel will help break down dirt and brake dust. It also takes a lot of the hard work out of the process. A brush design specifically for spokes helps get between complex alloy wheels. You can also use a large flat surfaced brush to scrub the tyres; this will remove the maximum amount of dirt possible and rejuvenate your tyres.
Dry the Whole Body
Using a drying agent will help you achieve a streak-free finish. It also helps put a layer of protection onto the paintwork. Use only the microfibre drying towel to dry your car because using any other cloth can cause permanent scratches. The drying and washing stages are critical as it's here that you can cause scratches in your paintwork and which form mirroring that can be seen in sunlight. Microfibre towels should always be clean and free from any debris. The larger the towel, the easier it is to dry the vehicle in the least possible wipes.
Clean your Glass
Having a super clean class can make or break the overall appearance of a clean car. Use a specific glass cleaner towel and solution to ensure a streak-free and crystal clear finish.
Polish & Protect
Once the car is completely dry, consider adding a layer of protective wax to your paintwork can help protect it against the harsh winter environment for longer. Wax can either be applied by hand or using a machine polisher. It's important to take your time and follow instructions on the wax on how to apply and remove residue.
Tyre Dressing
With clean wheels and triers, apply a layer of tyre shine to the face of the tyre. Tyre shine gives a finished dressing to the wheels and when applied correctly can last a number of weeks.
Maintenance Items
When cleaning your car, it's a good time to check on the essentials. You're likely to use more screenwash through the winter months. Using one that contains antifreeze can help on frosty mornings. It's also important to check you have adequate antifreeze in your cooling system will prevent long-lasting damage to your engine.
Interior
Once you have completed the process successfully and your car looks as shiny and clean as new. So, what now? What about the interior?
Yet again, you'll need to prepare for that as well accordingly. Take a look at our guide on cleaning the interior of your car here.
Clean Your Car Regularly
Once you clean your car, keep in mind that it'll get dirty by catching tar and grime. That's why you should clean your car at regular intervals. The ideal duration to clean your car in winter is every two weeks.
