Keeping your vehicle looking great in December is always a challenge no matter where you live.
Road salt, freezing temperatures and melting snow corrode your paint, fog up the headlights and soak your carpets. Left unchecked, these minor issues can snowball into expensive repairs by spring.
Michael Pennington of Meguiar’s car care products has more than 40 years of car care experience training professional car care experts on winter protection. He shared the following pro tips for prepping your vehicle for winter.
Protect vehicle paint. If your vehicle is not coated with a protectant, winter grime can etch into the paint causing dull spots, stains and rust. Car wax wears off quickly in winter conditions.
Synthetic or spray waxes struggle to provide consistent protection during winter months, according to Mike Pennington of Meguiar’s.
”For the best protective qualities against winter, a ceramic or hybrid ceramic product is the ideal choice. They resist chemicals and the elements best and also make washing your car easier,” Pennington said.
Protecting wheels and tires. Your wheels and tires are constantly exposed to winter weather. Without protection, corrosion sets in, tires age prematurely and washing them becomes far more difficult than it should be.
Pennington uses this 3-step strategy for winter-proofing his tires:
- Before the first snow, thoroughly clean and dry your wheels. Then apply a durable wheel coating. This initial step adds a shield that repels dirt and salt.
- For mid-winter maintenance, take advantage of mild days to wash your wheels. Use a wheel-safe cleaner, curved brush and high-pressure water to reach every spoke and edge.
- Target the wheel wells. These areas trap corrosive materials that damage suspension parts, chassis components, mounting bolts and fasteners.
Prevent moisture and odors in the interior. Swap your regular floor mats for all-weather liners or rubber winter mats to protect your vehicle’s interior from persistent smells and discoloration.
”All-weather mats are great at capturing and holding moisture, dirt, mud and salt and not allowing them to penetrate into your carpets,” said Pennington. ”They can be easily cleaned as well to avoid buildups and odors. They also make great liners especially if you have dogs that love the outdoors and accompany you in your vehicle.”
Pennington suggests hosing the mats every week to stop salt and moisture from causing unpleasant odors.
Protect Your Trim and Plastic Surfaces. Cold temperatures and UV exposure can cause plastic trim and rubber seals to fade, crack or lose their color. Pennington recommends using a trim protectant formulated for winter conditions to prevent drying and fading.
Regular vehicle washing. Washing your car in winter may feel pointless, but it helps protect your paint from lasting damage. Winter washes aren’t about a sparkling car—they’re about preventing salt and grime from causing corrosion on the car body.
”Pay special attention to the lower panels, wheels, wheel wells and undercarriage where road grime and salt tend to accumulate,” Pennington said. ”Once winter ends, do a deep cleaning to make your vehicle look good as new for the spring and summer months.”