Bring the Sparkle Back to Your Vehicle This Spring

Published on March 01, 2018 03:37 PM in Car Care

Not getting stranded was probably your biggest driving concern this winter. Now that spring has rolled around and the sun has returned, chances are you’re seeing the toll nature took on your vehicle.

“All winter you’re taking steps to make sure your battery starts each morning and having the right tires to deal with snow and ice,” said Mike Deddo, a senior chemist for Turtle Wax. “Then spring comes around and you’re thinking ‘my car’s a mess, what am I gonna do?’”

Those who live in areas with heavy snowfall–especially those in the Midwest and East Coast– are familiar with road salts, which are sprayed on streets and highways by maintenance crews. While salts melt snow and clear roadways, they can also destroy paint and the undercarriage.

“Salt builds up the worst in the corners of the floor wells,” Deddo said. “After a point, it stops looking like individual pieces of salt and becomes one big, continuous crystal.”

Even if you’ve faithfully rinsed off your floor mats throughout the winter, chances are there are residual stains to address. An aggressive interior cleaner can help polish rubber mats to like-new condition, Deddo said.

“Look for something that has similar power to a commercial cleaner,” Deddo said.

Nationwide rock salt shortages have forced companies to mix their product with sand and mud to maintain costs, he said. The modified compounds still melt snow and improve traction, but the mixture can make vehicles appear filthy.

“I’m in Chicago and it seems like more cars out here are covered in brownish salts than the typical white.”

Hosing the wheel well dislodges caked on crud, Deddo said. Salt is highly corrosive and Deddo suggests washing and waxing the wheels to protect against damaging deposits.

Removing road salts from the paint requires a thorough washing–not just rinsing it off. Deddo doubles or even triples the amount of auto soap in the wash bucket when removing salt and grime.

“The soaps are designed to be gentle, so you don’t need to worry about doing damage.”

You’ve taken care of the exterior, but what about the engine compartment? Spray and splatter from the road coats engine components.

Peering beneath the hood doesn’t need to be intimidating, especially if you are just wiping down the engine, he said.

“You can wipe the hoses and plastics down with a damp cloth. You could also use an interior cleaner if you wanted. After all, those are the same plastics and rubbers you find inside the car,” he said.

Deddo offered the following tips for restoring your vehicle’s luster this spring:

Cleaning the upholstery, rinsing the wheel wells and removing grime from exterior surface will help protect your vehicle and return the luster.
Thoroughly clean out your floor mats: If vinyl, use dish soap and warm water. Cloth mats require vacuuming and spot treatments or replacement.
Clean the wheel wells with an automotive wheel cleaning solution. Salt and grime clings behind the tires and needs to be flushed out with water.
Increase the concentration of soap in the wash bucket. It’s gentle, and you may find it easier to remove built-up grime.
Clean under the hood. Wiping down the engine and hoses with a damp cloth makes the area look better and allows heat and air to move around in a cleaner environment.