how to independently maintain your carhow to independently maintain your car

When you have to travel during and shortly after a winter storm passes through your area, your car will take a lot of abuse. Not only are you more likely to scratch your car when you scrape and brush the snow and ice off the exterior, but it is also subjected to icy and slushy conditions.

Especially if you live in an area that uses rock salt to clear the roads, your car usually becomes covered with it and should be cleaned off as soon as possible. Other than improving how your vehicle looks, there are a couple of other reasons why you should have your car detailed after a winter storm.

1. Road Salt Will Eat Away at Your Car's Exterior Paint, Metal, and Rubber

One reason that you should take your car to a detailer as soon as the snow and roads clear is that you need to have the road salt removed right away. Road salt is very corrosive, and once the moisture from the melted snow and ice dries up, it is left caked on your car.

If left on for too long, the salt will start to eat away at the paint, metal, and rubber. It will even coat and damage the undercarriage of your car. A full-service auto detailer will ensure that the salt is removed from all of these areas.

2. Slush and Salt Brought in on Your Feet Will Ruin Your Car's Carpeting

Another reason to take your car in to have it detailed is that the interior carpet is in danger of being ruined if it is not cleaned thoroughly. Every time you step into your car during and after a snowstorm, you carry in salt-filled slush on your feet.

This slushy ice can have two negative effects on your car's carpet, the first of which is that the salt will eat away at the fibers. The second is that the excess moisture will make it more likely for mold and mildew to grow underneath the carpet. A detailing service will ensure that the carpet is cleaned and dried.

While driving during and immediately after a winter storm, the road salt and slush can wreak havoc on your car. If left on the exterior, road salt will eat away at the paint, metal, and rubber. Also, when you carry salt-filled slush on your feet as you get into your car, your carpets will become filthy and wet, which could cause the fibers to break down as well as encourage fungal growth. As soon as the roads clear, take your car to an auto detailing service near you — such as Euroclassics Limited — to have them thoroughly clean the remnants of the winter store off of your vehicle.