Even in winter, a car must be well maintained and cleaned so that you can enjoy it for a long time. Cold, salt, ice, and snow take a heavy toll on the engine, paint, and bodywork. I have listed the most important tips here:
Car care in winter:
Interior cleaning of the car in winter
A lot of moisture builds up inside the car in winter. Furthermore, the carpets are heavily stressed by snow, salt, or dirt. Therefore, it makes sense to clean the car more often even in winter so that it stays nice and clean:
- Clean the front and rear windshields. A film of dirt can often settle here due to the use of the blower, which can obstruct visibility.
- Keep the interior as dry as possible
- Shake out wet floor mats regularly
- Do not leave wet objects (e.g., umbrella, snow brush, wet jackets, etc.) lying around. Use a small plastic tub in the trunk to store these items. This way, the leaking water can be easily emptied afterwards and does not seep into the car carpets.
- After long drives, air out the car for a while by opening all the doors. This allows the damp interior air to escape quickly and prevents mold from forming in the car.
- Unsightly salt stains on car carpets can be removed with a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water.
Washing the car in winter
You should also wash your car every now and then in winter, because if you go too long without a trip through the car wash, paint and rust damage can occur. "Frequent drivers" are advised to clean their car up to twice a week, while "occasional drivers" can get by with 1-2 times a month.
Before going to the car wash, the following should be done:
- Seal door locks with adhesive tape (so that nothing freezes after washing!)
- Remove coarse dirt, salt residues, and snow from the car. To do this, spray the car with warm water using a high-pressure cleaner. If you drive into the car wash with dirt and salt, it acts like sandpaper and leaves unsightly scratches. Then drive into the car wash immediately with the wet car.
- In winter, you don't necessarily have to choose the most expensive wash program; a simple basic cleaning is sufficient.
After the wash, the following things should be done:
- If necessary, remove hot wax from the windshield after washing
- Clean door sills with clear water
- Remove remaining water from washing in cracks and corners with a soft cloth
- Lubricate door rubbers with glycerin, petroleum jelly, deer tallow, or silicone spray
Those were the most important tips for cleaning and maintaining your car in winter. If I have forgotten anything, or if you have a great tip, I would be happy to receive a comment or an email.
Also read: Car Care After Winter
Photo by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
