Finger-drawn “wash me” signs pop up on grimy cars in winter.
Donna Pirotte doesn’t let that happen to her sport-utility vehicle, especially when salt and sand rule the roads. Friends always comment on her shiny SUV. And it’s black, no less, the most challenging car color to keep clean.
“I make it a priority because that’s how I was raised,” Pirotte says. “My dad always said a car is the second biggest investment you’ll make, and a car is a reflection of a person.”
Ravages of winter weather
Mark Thorsby, executive director of the International Carwash Association based in Chicago, says people should wash the car as soon as possible after a snowfall. “Winter is the nastiest time of year for a car’s surface,” he says. “So if it isn’t washed and then it warms up, the greater the corrosive activity.”
A few days after a snowfall, auto supply managers say they sell a lot of spray-on wheel cleaners. Customers tell them they don’t want their wheels to rust. Armor All Car Wash wipes are also one of the top sellers in winter. People can use them while their car is parked inside the garage, but they’re best for spot cleaning or wiping off a car surface when it’s just a little dirty.
Follow the dealer
Auto dealerships keep their cars squeaky clean year-round. They polish cars in the beginning of winter and after winter. They wash them every few days, too. “When it comes to drying cars in the winter, it’s a good idea for people to wipe off the weather strips around doors so they don’t freeze shut,” says Rich Frost, service manager of Cable-Dahmer Chevrolet in Independence, Mo.
Interiors important
Car interiors also need extra care during winter. Ice-melting chemicals eventually rot plastic, leather, vinyl and fabric. The salty water also damages the carpeting and floor mats, making them pill unless they’re vacuumed soon after they’re wet, Thorsby says.
An incentive for cleaning a car in winter is the resale value. A well-maintained interior and exterior adds about $1,500 to the value of a used car, according to Kelley Blue Book. So when winter is over, the expense of getting a car’s carpet steam-cleaned is probably worth it.
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