Winter weather can take a toll on a vehicle’s paint. Whether it’s the cold temperatures, the salt and sand used to keep the roads clear, or when you need to remove the snow and ice after a storm, your car’s paint takes a beating. Since you can’t stay home all winter and keep your vehicle in the garage, it is important to protect it. Check out these tips for protecting your car’s paint during the winter months.
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Protect It Before Winter Arrives
Before the temperatures even begin to drop and the snow starts to fly, make sure to add a protective coat of wax to your car. A polymer wax will provide a layer of protection and help to create a shield against the road salt, snow, and general winter grime. Apply a thorough coating of wax in the late fall, and then reapply at least once during the winter. Just make sure to wait for a day above freezing and wash your car thoroughly before applying.
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Take Cover
If you have a garage, use it in the winter. Not only will it make your day easier after a snowfall, but it is also better for the paint. If you don’t have a garage, consider a car cover. There are heavy duty covers that will protect the car from moisture and the impact of ice storms. Keeping your vehicle under cover will also prevent ice from forming which not only saves you time, but it means you don’t have to scrape it off the paint.
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Remove Snow and Ice The Right Way
Always keep a good snow brush in your vehicle so you can use it to remove snow and ice from your car. Don’t use a shovel, a credit card, or other items that could damage the paint. There are products with foam heads which will safely remove snow from the car, and when it comes to ice, make sure you don’t use an ice scraper on the paint. These tools are only for the windows. The hard plastic will scratch the paint, so instead, leave plenty of time to warm up your car and melt the ice.
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Wash It Frequently
The salt and sand that road crews use when clearing the roads gets in and on your vehicle. It is important to wash this off, so it doesn’t damage the paint. Whether you have to bring it to a car wash or you have a place at home to wash it, make sure to clean off the road grime every few weeks throughout the winter. The salt will damage the paint if it stays on too long.
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Use a Clay Bar
Even after washing, there could be small particles of grit that remain on the paint. A clay bar will remove these by gliding over the waxed surface. It acts as a deep cleaner and removes stuck on particles, and it will even remove imperfections in the paint.
Follow these tips to protect the paint and keep your vehicle looking great all winter long.
Image via Flickr by evengoodwin1 used under CC BY 2.0
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