When you have a car, the primary concern is taking care of it. One such responsibility is car washing in winter. Even if your brakes or fuel injectors give away, there will be no one but you to take care of it. It might get hectic. Some “insignificant” jobs like car washing and cleaning are still a big chunk of taking care of your car.
Bad weather conditions and rough usage may cause enough tear and wear to your car, especially when it is winter. External agents like snow, mud, water, ice, etc. punish your car’s exterior, as well as the interior. When you walk in the car with smaller debris, you might not be aware of, they dirty your car. When everything adds up, they cause significant damage to your car. Car washing in winter might be rough; both on you and your car. However, here are a few tips on how to ensure smooth washes.
TIPS FOR SAFELY WASHING YOUR CAR IN WINTER
Tip 1: Proper Dressing
Car washing in winter is no fun, especially when you are not properly dressed. Hence, try dressing in layers, and include waterproof clothes. This will help you do everything as comfortably as possible.
Try wearing insulated gloves. Since you will be coming in direct contact with cold water while car washing in winter, it will help keep your hands safe from the cold. Make sure they aren’t too heavy, and layer them with waterproof gloves if possible. Put on thermal waterproof boots, ones that are slip-resistant. It would be a good addition to wear a waterproof base layer to stay warm, added middle layer, and a warm outer jacket.
Tip 2: Warm Water
If you find ice or snow on your car, do NOT use hot water. Glass and heat do not mix well together. For example, using hot water may increase any form of cracks, even if microscopic on your windshield, or even worse, may shatter it.
Instead, use warm water before car washing in winter. This will help pre-heat your car and won’t freeze the water.
Tip 3: Anything Associated With Car Washing in Winter Should Be Done In The Garage
A good suggestion would be to do all the washing in an enclosed area such as a garage. This would be ideal. Although one should not use a pressure washer or sprayer if no drains and adequate ventilation are available, it is much warmer to do it in an enclosed area.
If you are in an apartment, go and try to search the nearest car wash bay so that you can block the wind and the water will not dry up.
Tip 4: Utilize Protective Wax
Waxing during a car wash is a good preventive measure that ought to be taken. Some of the experts advise using different products to prevent the interaction of water and snow. Wax is rather durable, and thus, it does not wear off easily so it will hold up to continuous splashes.
In this way, the application of the wax will be done occasionally to decrease washing on your end which is good.
Tip 5: Check The Underbody To Avoid The Risk Of Scraping Against Any Objects.
That is one of the most significant pieces of advice and you must never omit it during car washing in winter. And if you think why, here it is: the underbody does not have some sort of shield to ward off road salt or water splashes, which, in a jiffy, could bring rust on.
Wash the car with a hose using water while also squirting water on the wheels and the wheel wells; they both need to be washed of salt and dirt.
Tip 6: Wash The Wipers
If not covered in water head into a car close all the doors and start the washer fluid. Allow it to spray for 10 seconds or more while engaged with the Windshield Wiper and the Windshield Wiper Blade. It will allow the fluid to penetrate the wiper parts, such as hinges so that there is no ice formation.
It will help to get rid of the freshwater that has been washed.
Tip 7: Avoid Letting Your Windows And Doors Freeze
We now proceed to another post-wash suggestion. When you are finished, crank down each window a few more inches and do the same with the moonroof so there is nothing in between the window and the seal. Let them lay open for a few minutes. It will also be pertinent to follow the same approach about your fuel door.
After that, open the doors and clean up the rubber seals on the inner edges with a towel to remove any dust to prevent any squeaking sound.
Tip 8: Use Apps!
While many people like to do things by themselves, it is a true fact that car washing in winter is a hassle. Hence, with certain apps, you may order some sort of service. These services will cost around $50-$60, depending on the company.
Steps to car washing in winter
- Step 1: Use a cleaning solution designed for your vehicles. If you use your regular dish soap, it’s going to eat away the wax of your vehicle.
- Step 2: To thoroughly wash the exterior of your car, make sure to wash your tires, wheels, bumpers, undercarriages, and fenders. Prioritizing all of these components will help in preventing debris and salt build-up.
- Step 3: Be sure to use protective wax on your vehicle. You may do it in every two to six months to keep it nice and shiny. However, when the temperature is below 55 degrees, it might be difficult to apply wax.
Step 4: If you decide to do it yourself, make sure you follow the right products, including, vehicle-specific cleaning solution, a water hose, two buckets, one filled with warm water and the other with cleaning solution, a sponge, and microfiber towel to dry your car.
Step 5: While washing the car at home, make sure to wash one part at a time. Clearly rinse off one section of the cleaning solution before moving on to another.
Step 6: To keep the winter dirt at bay, make sure to wash the interior as well. Vacuum the carpets and mats and clean off the debris left behind. Make sure you get your car organized while you’re at it!
When should you wash the car in winter?
You might want to avoid car washing in winter if the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperature reading is at around 49 degrees Fahrenheit, you may want to do the car washing. However, the ideal temperature lies between 50 to 89 degrees.
How often should you wash your car?
While there is no fixed schedule for car washing in winter, some would suggest doing it every two weeks. If you have a vehicle that gets dirty often, you might want to wash it more often. However, it is important to do the cleaning thoroughly, especially after snow and ice melt. This way you will be able to avoid sand, soil, salt, ice, etc., reducing the chances of corrosion. Make sure your car exterior is adequately prepared during winter before rust damage takes over your car exterior.