How to wash the car in winter

It is tough to be a car, and especially in winter it is exposed to snow, road salt and tar which causes wear and tear and makes it vulnerable to rust. In addition, studded tires tear up particles from the road that can damage the car.

That is why it is important to wash your car in the winter

Do you think there is no point in washing the car because it gets dirty again right away? Then you should think again.

Thorough car washing once in a while and regular rinsing exposes rust damage and makes the paint last longer, which helps to ensure the value of the car, as well as lower costs for rust treatment.

Also taking care about your car batteries in winter is very important. With out proper battery maintenance your car might not start when you need it the most.

“The car gets dirty again right away”

Your car most likely looks dirty all winter, but frequent car washing is still absolutely necessary to maintain quality. When you wash the car regularly, road salt, tar and particles will not settle so hard on paint and chassis.

You should also be aware that your headlights and license plate are clean. If you do not wash the headlights, it will be difficult for other road users to see you in the winter darkness and you can be fined if the registration number is not visible.

Washing or rinsing?

You do not need to wash the car as often in the winter, if you take care to rinse it off regularly. Then you remove the worst of road salt and particles that settle on the car. Rinsing can be done in a laundry room, at home or at a self-washing station.

Flushing at a self-washing station costs little and takes a short time. However, it is an advantage if the car is allowed to dry before you drive on and it obviously does best in a car wash with mechanical drying, or at home where the car can stay in the garage. In any case, it is better to rinse at a self-washing station than not to rinse at all.

How often should the car be washed in the winter?

How often the car should be washed in winter depends on how much you drive and whether you drive in places where there is a lot of salt on the road.

As a rule, it lasts once or twice a month, and remember that a single time is better than nothing. The most important thing is to rinse the car with water so that road salt and other things do not stick to the car. The car wash itself can be done less frequently.

Cold degreasing — simple and effective

You should degrease the car in both summer and winter. During the winter season, there is often a coating on the bottom of the car that consists of salt, asphalt and other contaminants.

To remove this, you must use so-called cold degreasing — a spray that is particularly suitable for use in the winter and that you can use directly on the car. You can buy this at a petrol station.

Only spray the lower part of the car and the rear of the bumper. Cold degreasing is a strong remedy so do not use it on rubber strips or anywhere else.

After using the cold degreaser, you should wash the car with a high-pressure cleaner or in a car wash. You can finish by using silicone pins on the strips and locking oil in the key lock, if you use a key for your car.

Environmentally friendly car wash

If you are concerned with protecting the environment, you may want to wash your car in a car wash or at a self-wash station. Here there are treatment plants which means that detergents and degreasers do not end up directly in the municipal plant.

Should I rust treat my car?

New cars are delivered with a rust guarantee, this applies to so-called rust-through. The car owner is responsible for protecting the surfaces of the car, and an anti-rust treatment is never a bad investment if you are going to resell your car at a later date.