Car cleaning guide: Can I wash my car in winter?

class = “sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

Is it recommended to wash in winter?

The answer is clearly yes! The aggressive mixture of road salt and moisture causes rust, even though modern cars are much better protected against rust. However, salt is still poisonous to metal, especially in case of deep scratches and stone chips. Driver support systems in new cars, whose sensors and cameras are affected by dirt, should also not be forgotten. Headlights and taillights can only shine fully when they are clean.

How often should you bathe in winter?

This depends on how cold and wet the winter is and how often the salt is spread. In the current, rather harsh winter months, it is recommended to go to the car wash every two weeks. This is especially true for those who drive frequently and for old cars that are not yet optimally protected against aggressive salt.

Do subzero temperatures cause problems?

Basically no. But if the thermometer drops below minus 10 degrees, dangerous voltages can arise when hot water from the car wash hits the icy body. These stresses can cause problems for a windshield that has previously been damaged by damaged paint or stone chips. There is also a risk that the door locks will freeze and the seals will freeze and become damaged when the doors are opened.

Cheap or expensive washing program?

It doesn’t matter which program – basically the cheapest one is enough, as in the summer. However, options such as under-vehicle washing may be useful in winter conditions where road salt is used significantly. The most important point in winter cleaning is to manually pre-wash the paint, as well as the rims and fenders, with a high-pressure cleaner before starting the automatic brush washing process. Otherwise, coarse dirt will act like sandpaper and leave scratches.

What about after the car wash?

To prevent unsightly lime stains, water residues on the bodywork should be cleaned with a soft cloth. Door seals and door frames should be cleaned and dried, and rubbers (including window seals) should be rubbed with grease; This protects the material and prevents the doors from freezing. Since you constantly need the windshield washer system in typical bad winter weather, check the washer fluid level regularly and top up with frost-resistant windshield cleaner if necessary.

Source: Blick