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The Importance of Cleaning Your Car After a Winter Storm 

Winter weather can bring a brutal winter storm featuring heavy snowfall, sleet, freezing rain, and frigid temperatures. Icy roads are a side effect of severe weather. Driving in these conditions is typically not advisable, but it cannot always be helped. 

These challenging driving conditions not only jeopardize your safety, but also jeopardize the condition of your car’s exterior. To help avoid emergencies and make the roads safer and less icy, sand, salt, and de-icing, chemicals are placed on the roads. When driving through icy conditions, there is no way to avoid getting these on your automobile. 

The Importance of Cleaning Your Car After a Storm

The chemicals on the road that are used to melt ice can wreak havoc on your car’s exterior. Salt and other chemicals can lead to rust and damage, so they should be washed off as soon as possible. If you neglect cleaning these solutions from your car, your resale value is liable to diminish because of the damage the de-icers may cause. 

Snow is lovely, but when it accumulates on your vehicle, it can make it difficult to see and can camouflage your car so that other vehicles have a hard time seeing you. Promptly cleaning the snow off of your vehicle can reduce your risk of being in an accident.

Clean cars seem to perform better on the road. When snow and ice collect on your car’s tires, it can contribute to a lack of traction. This can further affect the car’s ability to stop on already slick roads. By keeping your car clean after a winter storm, you can be sure it will operate properly even in severe weather conditions.

How to Clean Your Car Following a Winter Storm

Cleaning a car after a winter storm is important for the life of your car. There are steps you can follow to do it effectively listed below: 

• It is critical that you choose the appropriate cleaning products to clean your car after a winter storm. The right products will help you avoid damaging your car’s paint job or the metal on the exterior. Avoid household cleaning agents that are abrasive, and use products that are expressly made for cars. 
• Remove loose debris like snow, ice, and salt by giving your automobile a rinse. By doing this, you are protecting your car’s exterior from scratches once you begin scrubbing the vehicle. 
• Clean the wheels of your car after giving the entire vehicle a rinse. Clean the tires with a wheel cleaner that is made to remove the accumulated chemicals and salt. Use a tire brush or sponge that is only used on your tires, so you do not transfer the grittiness to your car. 
• Once the loose debris is washed away and the tires have been washed, use a good car shampoo and a soft sponge to clean the car’s surface thoroughly. Rinse the sponge often so that you do not scratch the car’s paint. It is important to avoid circular motions when washing the car, so you do not have swirl marks to deal with.
• Use a chamois or a microfiber towel to ensure your vehicle is dry. This will protect your paint and keep water spots from forming. Taking this step will ensure you avoid ending up with water spots and will ensure the exterior of your car is protected. 
• Protect the exterior of your car by applying a protective wax sealant. Waxing your car protects your paint. This will make cleaning the car easier in the future. 

The Importance of Cleaning Your Vehicle

After a winter storm, the chemicals and salt on the road can cause the snow to melt, but it can also cause your car’s paint and its metal to corrode. It can damage not only your paint job but your undercarriage as well. 

The damage does not end there. Your brakes and suspension can experience damage from the salt and chemicals as well. Electrical damage can also be a big drawback to not immediately cleaning your car up. Corrosion can lead to short-circuiting electrical systems and leading to malfunctions and safety issues. These all are much more of a hassle and more expensive than simply washing your car well following a winter storm.