Steve's Detailing in Denver knows that keeping your car clean in winter is just as important as keeping it looking good in the summer – all year round for that matter! A clean car not only feels and looks good, but it can also drastically improve the longevity of your car's interior and exterior by years, making it more desirable for a future sale or trade-in.
Here are some essential methods for keeping your car clean in winter weather. In Denver, salt, sand and liquid calcium chloride are sometimes used to keep roads clear and free of ice and snow. Salt and sand are NOT your car's best friend. They will eat away at paint surfaces, destroy interior carpeting when tracked in from your boots, and depreciate your car's worth over time.
Without a doubt, the Denver area is one of those places where winter can wreak havoc on your vehicle. Don't delay in rinsing off, at the bare minimum, your car's exterior, especially after a long journey that has caked your vehicle with debris. Even better, come see our detail experts, and we'll make sure you're not left with a rust bucket!
If possible, try to take out any carpeting and replace it with rubber matting. Salt will eventually erode through to the metal below, causing rust and wear as well as stains on your carpet. When keeping your car clean in winter, using a spray protector is also a good option for carpet.
Now is the time to switch to winter tires too. You can ask Steve's Detailing to provide an added barrier of protective spray to your tires to increase the protection factor.
How often you wash your car is obviously central to keeping your car clean in winter. Stick to an average cycle of every ten days, more if there is a lot of salt or sand. Use only fresh water and a power hose nozzle to get the tough grime off, especially the undercarriage, mud flaps and tire wells. If washing at home, adding a little baking soda to the wash water can help dissolve some of the salt build up. It is best to clean on days when the weather is above 40 degrees or more.
Parking should not even like a concern, but there are pros and cons to parking in a heated garage or outside. When heated in a garage, the salt becomes more corrosive because it is melting, versus outside where it remains frozen. Best to rinse the debris off before parking indoors or get on a regular schedule of car cleaning and detailing.
Be sure to dry your vehicle thoroughly after washing. Leave the doors open as well, so that any trapped water can dry out. If possible, reseal and wax surfaces.
Driving through salty puddles and large snow drifts are not suggested but are unavoidable at times.
Shake off any leaves, snow, or grime from your shoes before entering the vehicle. Keep the inside clean and surfaces protected as much as possible.
Rust will be your main concern during the winter, and by keeping your car clean in winter, you can surely prevent rust from occurring. Moisture trapped within your car MUST be dealt with as soon as possible. Keep areas clean and dry when possible, and have a professional company like Steve's Detailing attend to the sealing and waxing details to keep your vehicle looking good.
Why choose a professional over doing it yourself? Well, time is usually the most significant factor involved. Work, kids, and life, in general, is usually way too busy to even think about a weekly cleaning maintenance on your vehicles. And it's even more difficult to align perfect car washing weather with your hectic daily schedule. Professional detailing services can take care of all the heavy lifting, often while you're at work.
Another great reason to choose a professional is the products they use. Industrial products for detailing companies are meant to clean paint and surfaces and interiors without damaging them, getting the best result possible. Most home use products just don't hold up to the cleaning power of professional ones. There is also a sequence to follow when detailing vehicles, and the professionals are experts at getting a super shine!
Waxing and sealant is another critical factor to protecting your vehicle's paint job. Snowplows and pick up trucks are on the road during the winter, spraying up large stones and debris that destroy the exterior paint of your car. Once your vehicle is washed and dried thoroughly, go the extra mile and have a protective wax administered. Steve's Detailing has many options to choose from, including a complete check over for any dings or marks. A good wax should last approximately three months, so it is wise to do this just before winter arrives.
Be sure to check your vehicle often for any dings or chips as you go through the winter season. If you do notice anything, it is best to deal with it promptly to prevent further damage or rust from settling in. Here is where a good detail company comes in handy! It is their job to notice any problems when washing and keeping your car clean in winter. Prevention is one of the most important factors for keeping your vehicle looking its best.
Steve's Detailing is your first line of defense for keeping your car clean in winter. Our experts can even arrange a schedule for your vehicle to keep it looking good and free of dirt, grime, salt and other muck this season. We have several options available, as well as clean, large bays, and employees that know how to make your car shine. We only use professional products that do the job to absolute perfection. Stop by today or schedule your car's day at the spa soon!