How Important are Car Washes in the Winter?
Children might love winter weather because it provides extra time away from school, but adults still have to go to work on a snowy day. Once the flakes start falling and ice accumulates on the streets, you may be tempted to skip the car wash until spring arrives, but that’s a big mistake. Even if you’ve installed seat covers to protect your interior from mud, moisture and other messy substances, there are a few other reasons to clean your vehicle during the winter. Here are a few reasons why a regular wash is still important during the colder months.
Increased Visibility
You can protect your vehicle in the driveway by keeping it under the best outdoor car cover available, but you’ll eventually have to venture out on the roads. Safe driving requires vision, which is something that’s easily obstructed during winter weather. To keep snow and ice from accumulating, road workers apply a salty solution to streets and highways. While these chemicals help make conditions safer, they create a buildup on windows and windshields. A regular wash can clear residue away and restore your sight.
Protection for Your Paint
It takes a lot of work to maintain your vehicle’s factory finish, and those efforts shouldn’t stop when the temperature drops. Unless you keep your car under an all-weather car cover, the paint is under constant assault from both natural and man-made forces:
- Ultraviolet radiation
- Road salt
- Inclement weather
- Blowing debris
A regular car wash during the winter can help minimise the effects imposed by any of these forces by cleaning away chemicals and mineral deposits. Some washing facilities also offer additives such as road salt neutralisers to completely mitigate the corrosive effects of the chemical slurry. You can even add extra protection by applying a synthetic paint sealant, which creates an impenetrable polymer layer.
Increased Traction
Winter weather creates slippery conditions, which is why it’s important to have a good set of all-season tyres on your car before the snow starts. Deep tyre treads are the only way to get traction on snowy streets, but they can quickly fill up with ice, mud and other substances. If too much of your tread is obstructed by debris, you might as well be heading out on the roads with a set of bald tyres. A car wash can help remove invasive materials and restore the grip you need for safe driving.
Prevention of Undercarriage Rust
Painted surfaces are only part of your vehicle’s exterior, but you can’t ignore the car’s underside. No area of your automobile experiences more exposure to road salt than your undercarriage, which is why you should periodically clean it off. Many professional car washes will clean this part of your vehicle for an additional fee, which is well worth the investment.
