Just a quick note to advise people on what to do to keep their car looking the best it can in the rubbish winter months…
Main thing is keep the underside of the car clean. If you can get it professionaly undersealed, especially if its a classic or an mx5!!! In the bad winter months I usually give my cars a jet wash at least twice a week to blast away any salt and grime that could promote early aging. Doesn’t have to be a full wash just a quick clean.
Its impossible to keep a car clean in the winter months but you may as well do the best you can to stop it corroding and the nasty tin worm to set in.
Next thing- apply a good quality wax or sealant. There are arguments for both. Waxes tend to bead water and sealants sheet water which is a quicker way to get rid of water. Sealants do tend to help keep the car cleaner for longer and some are extreamly durable. Adding a wax or sealant will not only keep your car rain free it will also help the car keep cleaner for longer as it makes dirt harder to bond to the paint. If dirt doesn’t cling onto the paint so easily you won’t inflict as many swirls and scratches when you come to clean the car.
Next tip- if its too cold to wash (eg you don’t want to do it) then give it a good pressure wash down to remove the thickest. Then cover it with a citrus pre wash or snow foam to help drag the dirt off the paint. This won’t be a perfect clean but it will get rid of nasty salt and dirt stuck to the car without the need for washing or getting your hands wet.
Unless you are a diehard car clean fanatic, like myself, it’s not worth dressing tyres and trim on your daily driver during the winter as the majority of these products do not last a couple of days in bad winter weather. I’m yet to find a durable tyre dressing that lasts in the winter months longer than 1 week (in the summer it would last 3-4). However, if you did want your plastics dressing there are some ceramic type dressings which are designed to last a number of years. Gtechniq c5 springs to mind or car pro dlux.
Last tip- I am a big fan of glass sealant. Glass sealant does a number of things. First it helps repel water and make your glass hydrophobic meaning it will repel water) this is good for driving in rain, especially if your wipers arn’t that effective. It will help (help not stop) winter frost settling on the window making defrosting a doddle. It will also make windows clean far easier. Another gtechniq fan here. Check it out on YouTube search for gtechniq clear vision g1
If anybody would like any tips or information on this please add a comment below or message me for details.
If anybody else has tips they would like to share please add them too so we can all benefit. These are the ones that spring to my mind. I’ve probably missed a few off such as washing with two buckets to prevent paint damage etc.
