Winter is coming. And with it comes bad weather, bad driving and dangerous roads. It’s at times like this you should look to you and yours – specifically, your car and the punishment it’s about to take over the next 6 months. Winter is the hardest time for your car, so you need to go that extra mile to make sure it makes it through the cold.
Why Is Winter So Harsh On Cars?
Worse than rain, sleet, snow or ice, the worst thing for cars is road salt. Road salt has been liberally spread across Britain’s roads since the 1930s, melting snow and preventing lethal amounts of ice from forming on the road. The downside, of course, is that salt deposits harbour moisture and accelerates metal corrosion, which can cause serious damage to your car. All the grit and debris left behind by gritting trucks can also cause damage to your paintwork and even chips in your windscreen.
How To Protect Your Car This Winter
Polymer Wax
You wear gloves to protect your hands during winter, right? Your car needs a layer of protection, too. Apply a polymer wax to your car’s paint to create a shield against road salt and grime, as well as snow, sleet and rain. This will keep your paintwork safe from the hazards of winter.
Pressure Wash
When there is a break between winter storms, use a high-pressure sprayer to rinse away all the grit, especially on the wheels, wheel wells and undercarriage. High-pressure spray loosens and removes road salt and grime, reducing the chances of permanent damage in hard-to-reach areas. Remember: road salt will eat away at your metalwork in no time, especially if you have alloy wheels.
Add More Wax
To get your car through the winter months, use a spray wax to provide additional paint protection and touch up any trouble spots. This should be used to complement the polymer wax. Spray wax is easy to apply and wipes off quickly. If you’re planning a longer than usual winter drive (visiting the in-laws for Christmas, for example), make sure you add on an extra layer of protection for that long motorway journey.
Be Mindful Of Snow And Ice
To clear away snow from your car, use a soft snow brush or a foam brush. Avoid using hard plastic scrapers you might use on your windscreen, as they can scratch painted surfaces. When shifting ice, let your de-icer do the hard work so your scraper doesn’t cause any damage.
Finally, when it comes to winter, make sure you drive safely. Keep a good distance away from the gritting truck and resist using the hard shoulder to cut through those holiday motorway jams. Not only is it illegal, but the hard shoulder is usually strewn with more grit and debris that can further damage your car.