Spring is finally here and all the slush and salt are disappearing from the roads again. Usually, the car has also taken a beating, so a thorough spring cleaning is in order. Here are the most important tips to make your car shine again:
Car Care After Winter
Once the grit and salt have finally disappeared from the roads, your car will appreciate a thorough interior and exterior cleaning.
Interior cleaning of the car after winter
After winter, the car is usually in a sorry state after all the wetness and dirt. Moisture, grit, or even salt residues accumulate, especially inside.
- Beat out all car mats properly and hang them up to dry
- If some wet car carpets cannot be removed, simply place newspaper on them and keep replacing it with fresh sheets
- Feel free to really heat up the car during a drive so that everything dries out nicely
- Vehicles kept in garages can have the window left open a crack overnight so that the interior can dry out nicely
- Unsightly salt stains on car carpets can be removed with a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water
- Clean the inside of the front and rear windshields with glass cleaner, as a film of dirt often forms here due to the blower in winter, obstructing visibility
- Wipe the dashboard or trim with microfiber cloths. Treat stubborn stains with plastic care products
- Treat the headliner very carefully, as rubbing too hard can destroy the structure or lead to light spots
- Use suitable upholstery or leather cleaners for the seats
- Vacuum the car thoroughly everywhere; grit and dirt should be completely removed
- Take this opportunity to declutter the trunk. Move winter accessories such as snow chains, winter windshield washer fluid, or ski racks to the basement or garage.
- Clean the spare tire well so that moisture cannot collect there. Additionally, check the air pressure of the spare tire.
Washing the car in spring
The car needs a basic cleaning after many trips in the snow. Hand washing is always recommended over going through a car wash. If you still prefer to go through the car wash, you should do the following things beforehand:
Before washing:
- First, clean the car roughly with a high-pressure cleaner so that the stuck-on dirt cannot scratch the paint in the car wash
- Remove superficial surface rust spots; there are special cleaning clays and common car paints available for this. (Caution: if the primer is damaged, head to the workshop!)
- Also wash all windows (including the side mirrors!) with dish soap or glass cleaner before the car wash
- Small scratches or damage can be repaired with polish or glass resins
- Also wipe the windshield wiper blades with dish soap
- Check wiper blades: If they still leave streaks after cleaning, they must be replaced
- Clean hidden areas, such as the inner edges of trunk lids, inner edges, or doors, by hand with special degreasers
- Check the rubber seals of the doors for cracks or leaks. These often happen when trying to open a frozen door
- Aluminum rims should be sprayed beforehand with an acid-free rim cleaner so that the stubborn brake dust really comes off
After washing the car
- Dry the vehicle with a chamois leather
- Treat any remaining dirt on the aluminum rims again with an acid-free rim cleaner
- Apply a heat-resistant rim sealant to the rims; this makes cleaning easier next time
- Treat exterior plastic with deep care products or plastic gel
These are my tips for getting the car ready for spring after winter. Do you have any tips, or did I forget something? I look forward to comments or emails on the topic.
Also read: Removing insect residue from the car
Photo by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
