Car Care & Auto Detailing Blog

Thanks to salt, you can have a safer driving experience on roads during the cold winter months. Salt decreases the freezing point of water and prevents it from freezing as quickly and as often—which means you won’t be sliding around on black ice or slippery snow. 

Unfortunately, road salt causes unwanted damage to vehicles—unless you take some precautionary measures to protect your car. Keep reading to learn about how salt can damage a car’s exterior and how to prevent that from happening. 

Although vehicle maintenance goes beyond aesthetics, we can all agree driving a car that glistens inside and out is an instant mood booster. If you want your vehicle to last, it’s important to know how to clean your car when the weather changes. It’s essential to keep it in pristine condition year-round, especially when temperatures drop. Clean cars in the winter require extra care and preventative techniques that aren’t required as often during the summer season. 

Below, we’ll discuss how to clean your car during the winter and provide clean car winter tips.

How To Keep Your Car Clean in Winter

1. Use your hands to rid excess ice and snow from your vehicle. Plastic scrapers are okay to eliminate snow from windows but could damage your paint. 
2. Use warm water. If you can’t access warm water, warm up your car with a quick drive around the block. Then use a non-abrasive, professional-grade Wash Mitt. Lastly, completely dry your vehicle with a premium drying tool like The Absorber®. 
3. Avoid washing in freezing temperatures. When the weather drops below 32°F water can potentially freeze doors and windows shut. 

Tips for a Cleaner Car in Winter

If you want to know how to clean your car in the winter, you should also know the following clean car winter tips.

Use Rubber Floor Mats

Swap out your current cloth floor mats for rubber ones. Rubber floor mats are water-resistant and will keep your interior flooring dry. 

Wipe Your Windows

Rid your windows of buildup and grime by periodically wiping them with a multipurpose towel like The Absorber® Mini. 

Wax Periodically

Use a high polymer sealant or top-shelf wax to keep dust, grime, and dirt to a minimum. Waxing your vehicle every three to four months will provide an extra coat of protection for your automobile. If you're curious how often you should wax your car you read more about that here.

Pad the Floors 

Place a mold and mildew-resistant towel under your rubber floor mats. A porous towel, like The Absorber®, will contain excess dirt, water, and slush that may cause components of your vehicle to rust. After a week, machine wash and reuse.

Use Mud Flaps

Mudflaps prevent road debris from damaging your vehicle and deflect loose gravel from chipping the windshield of surrounding cars.  

Park Indoors

Clean cars in winter require constant protection. When you can, protect your vehicle from the elements and park under a carport or in a garage. Not only will indoor parking protect your paint job and other components from weather erosion, but it will also keep your car running smoothly. 

How To Keep Your Car From Rusting From The Snow

In most cases, rust begins during cold seasons. Rusty components can damage your vehicle and weaken the frame of your car. Let’s review the best ways to prevent rust.

1. Monitor your wheel wells, bumper, and tires. If you notice paint wearing between in your wheel wells, clean and dry the area. Then, apply an anti-rust spray.
2. Inspect underneath your car. In addition to the hood, trunk, and drain plugs, rust from chemicals or salty roads may also develop on your vehicle’s frame.
3. Wash your car. Rust can form and spread quickly when excess dirt, sand, and salt accumulate. If it’s been a while since your car’s last bath, give it a quick cleanse. 

When it comes to buffing your car, there are a few things to consider: polisher, speed, and technique. If you’re not sure what to do or how or how to do it, don’t worry. We’re here to help you keep your car shining like new. 

Check out our car detailing and buffing recommendations below and learn how to use a car buffer like a pro.   

How to Pick the Right Car Polisher

With so many polishers on the market, it can be tough to decide which will help your car the best. The next time you’re considering a purchase, keep these things in mind. 

Quality

We all want a good product, but very few car owners look up reviews. Before spending your money, see what others think. After all, they’ve already tested the product.

Range of Speed

On average, car buffers allow between 600 and 3000 RPMs. Make sure the product you select is similar to that. For a good even finish, start at a slower speed and increase your rate as needed. 

Throw

The circumference your polisher covers is referred to as the throw. The larger your throw, the easier and faster you’ll buff. Auto owners with larger vehicles typically select larger car buffers to help them access places that are harder to reach. 

Weight

Consider the weight of the buffer you want. Hold the polisher in your hands. Does it feel comfortable? Is it too heavy? This component is often a determining factor, especially if this is your first one. 

Price

You get what you pay for. Cheap polishers will break easily or malfunction after a few uses. Try not to let prices sway you one way or the other. Quality will likely come with a price but this is an investment you won’t regret making.

Proper Buffing and Polishing Technique

Step One: Wash your car and leave it wet. Automotive buffing should never be done on a dry vehicle. 

Step Two: Place a clean and the slightly damp polishing pad on the buffing wheel.

Step Three: Apply a small amount of compound on a section of your vehicle and polish at a low-medium speed.

Step Four: Use constant pressure and keep the polisher parallel to avoid swirly markings. 

Tip: Keep the area wet and use moderate amounts of polish for each area.

Step Five: Work back and forth over the small area until the solution heats up. When this happens the paint will warm and scratches will disappear. 

Tip: As needed, remove your buffing pad and rinse with a hose to prevent a buildup of solution.

Save yourself time and elbow grease by using Clean Tool’s Buffing Ball to access those tricky spots. Uniquely designed for polishing chrome, aluminum, and painted surfaces, this tool is a car, motorcycle, or boat enthusiast’s dream! Made from soft viscose fibers, it’s the durable yet gentle buffing tool you need to rid your vehicle’s wheels of grime and dirt. Best of all, the buffing ball conveniently attaches to battery, air, and electric drills with ease. 

How To Clean and Care For Car Buffers

Wax on, wax off. We all know the method, but do you know what waxing a car does?  Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Though it adds a nice glisten to the exterior of your car, it does more than just make things shine.  Auto wax is a popular substance auto enthusiasts use to protect their car’s exterior surface. 

Let’s discuss the ins and outs of car wax further.

What Does Car Wax Do?

Like we mentioned above, the overall purpose of car wax is to add synthetic or natural protection to the coat of your car. With the right application process, wax creates a durable layer of protection that is resistant to sun damage, harmful chemicals, and other contaminants. 

Do New Cars Need to Be Waxed?

If you’re not sure how to wax a car, or how long car wax lasts, review the top three most asked questions about waxing your car. 

Car wax protects your vehicle from shallow scratches. It doesn’t however, keep your car from being damaged by sharp objects. 

Proactive maintenance is the best way to extend your car’s paint job. While not needed, new cars can benefit from extra protection. 

Get the showroom finish you’ve always wanted in three easy steps: 

Step One: Apply a small amount of wax to a foam polish pad. 

Step Two: Buff in a continuous, circular motion.

Step Three: Use The Absorber® to gently, and completely remove wax. 

Sounds great, right? Well, before you go gung-ho over car wax, take a closer look at the pros and cons of auto waxing.  

How Long Does Car Wax Last?

When it comes to cars, looks always count. If you ask yourself: how long does car wax last? Or do new cars need to be waxed? We’ve got you covered. We’ll answer these questions and list the good and bad aspects of using wax.

Advantages of Applying Car Wax

When done correctly, waxing your vehicle can extend the life of your paint and prevent minor damage. Car wax also does the following: 

• Adds shine
• Enhances clear coat
• Deters pollutants
• Masks small imperfections
• Prevents sun damage
• Adds lasting protection
• Resists scratches
• Improves car value
• Streamlines carwashing
• Resists water
  

Disadvantages of Applying Car Wax

If you value time and money, the disadvantages of applying wax just might outweigh the benefits.

• Needs reapplication
• Can be expensive
• Time-consuming 
• May cause stains 
  

Different Types of Car Wax

Below, we’ll tackle the three most common types of wax and how to protect car paint between waxes. 

If you’re not a car enthusiast but want to give your ride a lasting and durable shine, liquid wax might be for you. Most commonly found in the solutions at a car wash, liquid wax is a great choice for car owners who want long-term effects with minimal effort. If applying by hand, use a safe PVA cloth like The Absorber®. It’ll help you apply the liquid solution evenly.  

Longevity: Lasts up to three months

Cons of liquid wax: 

• Dries fast
• Can be abrasive
• Semi-difficult application 

Experienced car gurus and car showmen swear up and down by paste wax. While it’s not the easiest to apply, when done right, you’ve got a killer shine. Car collectors and professionals love paste wax and trust its reliability. 

Longevity: Lasts up to three weeks

Cons of paste wax: 

• Can be unforgiving 
• Expensive
• Time-consuming application

Short on time? Spray wax might be the perfect protectant for you. This type of wax is best for car owners who are always on the go. It’s also used as a spot cleaner for car gurus who are in between waxes. If you opt for spray wax, be sure to keep a PVA cloth like The Absorber® on hand. 

Longevity: Lasts up to seven days

Cons of spray wax: 

• Lower quality
• Not as protective 

How Often Should You Wax Car?

Now, let’s get to the question you were waiting for. How often should you wax? 

The answer to this question depends on various factors like:

1. How old is your car?
2. Do you keep your car in an open environment or keep it in a protected environment like a garage?
3. How often do you wax your Car?

If you own a brand-new car, then you should wax it two times a year. If your car is more than five years old, then it is recommended to quarterly wax your car.

If you don’t have time for a full wax, use The Glosser® car wipes to keep your car shining like new. It’s a portable and effective solution for auto owners with little time to spare. Best of all, The Glosser® is safe to use on all car surfaces.