Protection Against Road Salt and Brine

Road salt and other chemicals are important to help keep us safe during Westminster, Maryland weather and snow storms but, overtime they can take a serious toll on your vehicle. Causing rust, corrosion, and dirtying carpet and interior fabrics. Protect your investment by taking the time to clean your car! 

The chemicals used to keep us driving save during the winter mess can cause not only cosmetic damage but safer issues as well as it can speed up the rusting process and cause visible damage like rusting to your vehicle’s doors and body panels but it can also damage the things you can’t see- like suspension and braking systems 😱. 

You can take measures to limit these damages caused by road salt by maintaining your vehicle regularly, installing all-weather floor mats, and investing in a long-term exterior paint protection like a ceramic coating. Ceramic coating the vehicle’s entire surface (exterior and interior) protects it from corrosion and staining, preventing the salt from permeating surfaces. We recommend investing in long term vehicle protection before the wintery weather mess hits, but it can be done at any time! 

How Do You Remove Road Salt?

Road salt and other grime needs to be removed from the exterior, interior, and undercarriage of your vehicle. Salt can damage the cosmetics and safety of your vehicle, not to mention its resale value. Here are What in Detail Nation’s tips to help keep you and your vehicle from feeling salty!

Exterior:

Spray water over the exterior of your vehicle, making sure to target the heavy traffic areas (wheels, bumpers, sides), once you’ve done a pre-rinse spray the exterior of your vehicle again using a foam-cannon and your favorite wash soap! Once your car is nice and soapy, wash the entirety of the exterior with a microfiber wash mitt to avoid causing unnecessary scratching from abrasive brushes and sponges. 

Once you’ve lathered it’s time to rinse, take time spraying off your vehicle to remove all of the soap. When drying your vehicle in the winter be mindful of drying windows and door jambs as left over water could lead to windows and doors being frozen shut! 

Interior

Carpet, fabrics, and floor mats can get hogged up with salt, leaving salt in your vehicle to get wet can lead to permanent staining on your fabrics and carpets!  Remove and shake out your floor mats, if using all-weather floor mats we recommend spraying off with water and scrubbing them clean with a soft bristled brush and some diluted All-Purpose Cleaner, like Mequire’s, to get them looking new! Be sure to rinse all chemicals off and dry your matts thoroughly prior to reinstalling them. You can’t have a clean car without a through vacuum, vacuuming all carpet and cloth interior bits will help remove any leftover salt, rocks, and any other debris keeping your vehicle from feeling clean! If you have any dirty kick panels, small stains on seats, or sticky messes in cup holders we at What in Detail Nation recommend using Optimum-No-Rinse (ONR) as your highly dilutable all in one interior cleaner! 

Undercarriage

The undercarriage of your vehicle should be cleaned around once every two weeks in winter weather to prevent any buildup and corrosion. Spray water directly on the underside of your vehicle to remove any salt and grime that you can’t see. Even though the undercarriage can’t be seen, damage caused to your vehicle’s unprotected underside can cause serious performance and safety issues. 

In the winter months, with road salt and grime specifically, the faster you can get to cleaning it the less damage it’s going to do. We recommend cleaning your vehicle at least bi-weekly in the winter months to ensure your vehicle is safe, clean, and retaining its value. 

For all of your detailing needs, reach out to What in Detail Nation located in Westminster, Maryland. Where we offer a variety of maintenance plans, detailing bundles, and long term exterior protection to simplify your car care. Long term protection, such as Ceramic Coating at What in Detail Nation ensures your car or truck is clean from top to bottom. What in Detail Nations’s Ceramic Coatings not only enhance appearance, help to retain resale value, and extend the life of your vehicle’s paint they also ensure that you have the easiest car care possible! 

Road salt and grime shouldn’t be ignored, they not only cause cosmetic damage but can cause long term safety issues. Be sure that in the winter months you are washing your vehicle regularly, we recommend bi-weekly, making sure to take the time to remove all road salt and grime from not only the visible parts but the hard to see areas as well. While this is a service that can be done at home, winter weather conditions and the excessive road grime can make it challenging on you. That’s why it’s best to go to reputable and professional vehicle detailer.

Wash away road salt and grime of your vehicle in Westminster, MD

In the fall, detailing and installing a long term exterior protection to your vehicle can help protect your vehicle for the winter ahead! 

At the end of the winter, a decontamination wash can remove any leftover grime and provide a boost to your vehicle’s ceramic coating. Whatever the weather or season, What in Detail Nation is here to help simplify your car car, protecting your investment and ensuring your vehicle stays showroom ready. Contact us today!