Save Your Vehicle! DriveWise Spring Maintenance and Wash Tips

Months of winter wear and tear on your vehicle from salt and slush can ruin the paint, wheels and components such as suspension brakes. The interior of your vehicle is not immune to this damage as the salt and slush that we encounter outside is tracked in with us when we enter the vehicle. So with the weather heating up and the snow and ice melting here are five tips to wash off months of winter neglect.

1. Remove salt

There is nothing more damaging to your car inside and out than winter road salt. An industrial-strength carpet and upholstery cleaner with foaming action is perfect for cleaning the salt from the carpet and car mats in your car. It is also good for lifting ground-in stains from the other three seasons as well, including grease, oil and mud.

2. A clean dash

Get rid of dust with a thorough cleaning of your dash, console and doors. Take care of your dashboard and interior trim with a multi-use auto cleaner or wipes, and keep it clean and safe from UV damage with an interior protectant.

3. Clear windows

You can’t see out of dirty windows, and when your windows start to fog up even a little bit - every streak becomes obvious. Restore the clarity to your windows with a specialized automotive glass cleaner.

4. Preserve your seats

Leather seats are a nice option in a car, and you will want to preserve them as much as possible. Protect the leather in your vehicle from wayward splashes and salt with a restorer and protectant that will rejuvenate and preserve your leather interior.

5. Run it through a wash

When spring rolls around, you will want to ensure your car is free of rust and corrosion so that you can get back to giving it that custom shine car enthusiasts love. Give your car a regular wash, especially the undercarriage, to clean away any salt residue. For an added level of protection against winter’s worst, brave the cold for just a few moments and apply a spray-on wax, which can be applied to a wet or dry vehicle. Simply spray on the carnauba wax and enjoy a high-gloss shine that also protects the clear coat on the paint.

6. Tires and rims need cleaning too

Whether it's a coin op, or your local car wash, you can easily clean your tires and rims to help prevent salt and road grime from pitting the rims and diminishing the look and moisture in your tires. Before you turn on the water gun, or drive through the car wash, use a touch free tire and rim cleaner like Armor All Quicksilver Tire and Rim Cleaner and have the water do the dirty work for you.

Be sure to follow these tips each Spring to extend the life of your vehicle!