What Do You Clean After Winter?

"Almost A Wooden Bird" (AlmostAWoodenBird) 02/26/2015 at 13:22 • Filed to: winter, salt, maintenance, cleaning

0

12

It's been a long winter. A salty winter. A winter that probably could have been avoided had DeBlasio not murdered that groundhog last year. DeBlasiooo! Anyway, this is my second winter since leaving the beautifully non-salted roads of Florida, and today I come to you, Opponauts, with a question:

What do you usually clean on your car after winter? Especially after a particularly salty winter? This is aside form the obvious cleansing of salt. Air filters? Injectors? Door seals? Is there anything special to think about cleaning once we're all wrapped up with the snow? Any advice is appreciated!

Sam > Almost A Wooden Bird 02/26/2015 at 13:27

2

Make sure to hit inside the wheel wells really good with a pressure washer. Also, any cracks or gaps along to bottom edge of the car (door jambs, bumper, etc). My recommendation for the future would be to clean your car as frequently as possible during winter, to avoid letting it build up.

thebigbossyboss > Almost A Wooden Bird 02/26/2015 at 13:30

1

Interior. Probably more than once to get the salt off the carpets. Exterior completely. I am in eastern Canada, and I still wash every week or week and a half, even if it don't last too long.

The average temperature for us this month has been 2F.

Svend > Almost A Wooden Bird 02/26/2015 at 13:36

3

I do everything most of the time anyway but after a heavy winter give her a good clean especially in and around door shuts and panel gaps, give the underside a good blast to remove any dirt which may have salt imbedded in it, get right into the wheels arches with you hands (gloved) and brushes, gently clean inside the window seals to remove any grit or salt that will eventually scratch the windows, give the wiper blades a good wipe with a panel wipe or IPA mix, treat the seals around the windows with a good rubber restorer treatment, change windscreen wash, check all other water and oil levels, etc...

Almost A Wooden Bird > Sam 02/26/2015 at 13:36

0

Great advice. I've been keeping it as clean as possible with how cold it's been, but probably could have done even more! (Actually didn't even drive it some of the worst days)

Almost A Wooden Bird > thebigbossyboss 02/26/2015 at 13:38

0

I'm in Upstate NY - you guys have it worse but I feel the pain! My rubber mats over the carpet (precisely for salt) are definitely due for a wash.

thebigbossyboss > Almost A Wooden Bird 02/26/2015 at 14:21

1

I have rubber mats, but I still get salt on the edges. What town are you in. If you consult the map you will see my town of Ottawa, is about one hour direct north of Ogdensburg NY.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Almost A Wooden Bird 02/26/2015 at 15:00

1

I would definitely say not wait until after the winter is over. That is probably a little too long to wait for the salt to eat away at everything. I have been trying to stick to washing my car every 3 weeks or so at a self-wash with high pressure hoses. I make sure to hit the bottom of the car real well.

MM54 > Almost A Wooden Bird 02/26/2015 at 23:15

1

In short - Everything.

Almost A Wooden Bird > thebigbossyboss 03/04/2015 at 12:08

0

Yeah I've been paying attention to that too. I'm around Albany - you guys have been getting it up there!

thebigbossyboss > Almost A Wooden Bird 03/04/2015 at 12:27

1

I have never been to Albany, but I aspire to visit someday I have heard it's quite pretty.

Today we have been blessed...our first above freezing temperature of the year has come to pass!!

Almost A Wooden Bird > thebigbossyboss 03/04/2015 at 12:44

1

I can't wait for Spring! Let me know if you ever get this way - I'll do likewise!

thebigbossyboss > Almost A Wooden Bird 03/04/2015 at 13:14

0

Sounds good!!