Extra TLC for cars this spring could save motorists money
March is one of the busiest months of the year for car cleaning. According to Autoglym, retail sales of its car care range typically double, month-on-month, during March as motorists reach for the bucket and sponge for the first time after the winter freeze.
After an exceptionally bitter winter, in which very high volumes of road salt and grit were dispensed on UK roads, Autoglym says car owners should take particular care in ensuring they rid their cars of the ingrained and corrosive winter grime.
By following the firm’s latest post-winter cleaning regime, motorists can help prevent lasting damage and avoid high repair bills. It can cost several hundred pounds, for example, to professionally treat stone chips and scratches in which rust has taken hold, or to replace brake discs and pads damaged by corrosive road salt.
Autoglym’s post-winter car cleaning regime:
Following a harsh winter, car bodywork requires a thorough wash with a quality pH-neutral car shampoo.
Soiled wheel trims and alloy wheels should be cleaned thoroughly using a non-acidic wheel cleaner. Then liberally spray a specially formulated tyre dressing onto wet or dry tyre walls to protect the rubber from deterioration.
Paintwork should be treated using a specially formulated clay compound to safely lift any trapped contaminants on the surface.
Glasswork should be polished to a crystal clear, smear-free finish using a specially formulated product.
Tired post-winter paintwork can be revived with a quality polish, which will leave a deep gloss finish and tough protection against future contaminants.
Treating bodywork with a fresh application of a durable, premium-quality wax will protect paintwork for up to six-months.
Rubber trim and seals are prone to damage in freezing conditions and degradation. Clean and condition these using a premium-grade rubber protectant.
Car upholstery, floor mats and carpets will have been exposed to salty, muddy, wet grime. After a thorough vacuum, use a quality interior shampoo to rid fabrics of dirt and salt deposits.
Plastic trim – tread plates, door fascias and dashboards – should be cleaned with a purpose-formulated interior cleaner to remove traces of dried-on mud and salt crystals that may otherwise scratch and dull the surfaces.
Screenwash reservoirs should be topped up to ensure maximum visibility.
Paul Caller, CEO of Autoglym, says: “Motorists will welcome the emergence from sub-zero conditions, but the big freeze will have taken its toll on their cars. Without a thorough clean, the impact could soon be felt on their wallets, too, as many problems become costlier to remedy the longer they are left.”
“Spending more time and effort now in giving a little extra tender loving care to cars will minimise the risk of further damage, while also protecting them against the next extreme weather event that might be around the corner.”
Autoglym, which holds two Royal Warrants of Appointment, puts all its products through an arduous development regime that includes testing in extremes of freezing Icelandic winters.
