Car wash after winter. Chassis and interior maintenance

Spring is the time when you need to thoroughly clean the car - both inside and out. We suggest how to do it.

In winter, we usually did not use car washes. It was frosty, so there was a risk that even after drying the car and, apparently, thoroughly wiping the car, drops of water would remain on the car body and, freezing in the microcracks of the paintwork, would increase the cavities.

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In our time, when the temperature is above zero throughout the country, you should not hesitate to thoroughly wash your car. First, for aesthetic reasons. It does not matter if the body is light and dirt is not visible. Worse in the case of dark paint, where all the dirt is perfectly visible, which does not expose the car owner very well. Secondly, you can find salt residue on various parts of the car, especially in back streets. This, if not removed, will contribute to the formation of corrosion.

Where do we wash?

Let's start with external cosmetics, although the order does not really matter. We may decide to wash the car ourselves in front of the house, use a self-service manual car wash, a self-service car wash, or an automatic car wash.

The first of these decisions may come as an unpleasant surprise. First of all, because it is easy to get a fine from the city guards for performing such a procedure under the block. Especially if we can count on "good" neighbors. For example, in Bialystok - if not instructed - there is a fine from 20 to 500 zlotys. Failure to accept the mandate is equivalent to taking the case to court. Of course, it will not be a problem if we fulfill conditions such as washing on an airtight surface, where sewage will not fall into the soil, but will be discharged into the city sewer. It is clear that these requirements are not easy to meet. And while most shampoos on the market are biodegradable, this can be hard to explain to city wardens.

Automatic washing saves time, but there is a risk of inaccuracies. They remain tame. The ones with employee service are more expensive and have queues. In self-service, however, we must take into account the fact that we will not get rid of heavy pollution completely.

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First, the body

There are a lot of ways, as well as means for self-care of a car in stores. First of all, you should first thoroughly rinse the body with water. This will remove sand or dried dirt. Instead of a garden hose, it is much better to use a pressure washer - it is more effective. Particular attention should be paid to the wheel arches, where the most salt and dirt have accumulated after the winter. 

The next step is shampooing. It doesn't matter with or without wax. The wax can then be applied separately.

“I don’t advise washing the body with a sponge,” warns Wojciech Yuzefovich, an expert at a car cosmetics company. – Small pebbles or unwashed grains of sand can get stuck in it, which will scratch it after each pass over the paintwork. I recommend soft bristles.

We wash the car until we find that all the dirt has been removed. The next step is waxing. Waxes are pastes, lotions, olives, etc. Waxing can be done wet or dry. The latter option seems to be better because it is more durable, although more labor intensive.

See photos from a manual car wash: Car wash in the spring

If choosing a dry wax, rinse the shampoo with water and dry the car. The easiest way to get rid of moisture is with a suede fabric. We don't use paper towels because they leave scratches. It is not worth waiting until the water evaporates on its own, because if it is hard, then stains and limescale will remain.

Then we apply wax (the layer should be thin so that there are no streaks). Preferably with a soft sponge, in circular motions, starting from the roof of the car. We are waiting for it to dry. 

We can then buff the case with a soft microfiber cloth and bring it to a shine. Thanks to the application of wax, the varnish will return its rich color and fill in small cavities. This does not mean that they will disappear, they will only disguise themselves. Small scratches and scratches can also be covered with colored pencil. It's fast and easy. 

Wax creates an invisible protective barrier. Thanks to this, the dirt does not stick to the varnish so easily, it is also easier to remove later, explains Wojciech Józefowicz.

Waxing should not be done in direct sunlight when the car body is hot. This may cause spots.

In turn, wet wax is applied immediately after washing the car, without drying it. This will be a drug in the form of a spray or spray. Spray it on the surface of the varnish. Waxes for wet application break up the water layer into separate droplets that flow down the bodywork. Then just wipe the car with a suede or mop.

Some preparations can be used both wet and dry. Before the procedure, you should always carefully read how to use them on the package.

Dirt is difficult to remove

Bird droppings are of particular concern. Especially if they stay in the car for days or worse, weeks. They react with varnish, leaving streaks. A proven method of getting rid of excrement is the use of saliva. After a few minutes of covering the point with it, the dirt will be easier to remove with a soft cloth than by wetting it with water alone.

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You still have to reckon with the fact that the varnish in this place will fade. There is a way - polishing with a light abrasive paste. We do this after washing the body, but before waxing. We do not recommend doing this procedure before cleaning the car body because we will scratch it with sand.

It is good to use a microfiber cloth for the polishing machine. In case of discoloration covering large areas, it is best to contact the paint shop to have them removed. As a result of the self-test, the cleaned surface may differ markedly from the rest of the bodywork. Moreover, if on our own, without experience, we will polish with electric polishers.

Before applying the wax, of course, rinse off the remaining paste.

Bottom washing

This is an operation that we don't usually do. This is mistake. Most of the salt residues we will find under the car. Here it is best to use a hand wash, in which first the dirt from the chassis will be removed with high pressure water, then special cleaning agents will be applied, and finally the chassis will be washed.

It is difficult to perform such a procedure on your own. You can try at a self-service car wash or in the garage - provided that we have a sewer with a drain. Even just rinsing the bottom of the car with water will have an effect. You just have to be careful not to accidentally wet the alternator and other parts under the hood - especially if the car is equipped with a lot of electronics.

Rims, tires and windows

There are many sprays and sprays for disc care in stores. As Wojciech Józefowicz recommends, alkaline products should be used for steel and chrome rims. Using materials with an acidic pH will promote corrosion.

“For aluminum discs, preparations with an acidic pH are intended,” the specialist explains.

Such chemicals will help us remove dust from brake pads or tar from hot asphalt.

Diluted detergent is enough to clean plastic caps.

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For tires, we will buy specialists who, when applied, create foam. Leaves a "wet tire" effect when dry. Such preparations protect, for example, from sunlight, which accelerates the aging process of tires. It is important to note that tire cosmetics should not be used on the tread surface for safety reasons.

We wash car windows with ordinary liquid, for example, apartment windows. We can use it both outside and inside. But be careful, because such liquids often leave streaks after a quick and careless window cleaning. Another solution, although usually more expensive, is to wipe the windows with a special car glass fluid or specially moistened rags. 

Car interior cleaning

The main task is to remove the rubber mats used in winter, rinse them with warm water, and then thoroughly vacuum the car. We use the brush in nooks and crannies. Then we start cleaning the plastic.

We use antistatic agents to prevent dust from settling. They should leave a matte finish. It is better not to use sprays that give shine. The cabin will then reflect light, which can create reflections on the windows. Interferes with driving.  

Carpet, door upholstery and chairs can be cleaned with a diluted carpet cleaner. Apply with a sponge and rub into the foam. There are also a lot of products in spray guns, which we spray on dirty surfaces and wipe them with a damp cloth after a few minutes. Don't forget the headrests. Each feature must be tested first in an invisible location.

It is best to clean the upholstery when the air temperature is so high that it dries quickly with the door open. Otherwise, the windows will fog up.

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Leather upholstery requires more attention than fabric upholstery. It should be cleaned and serviced about every three months or at least twice a year. We use for this milk or foam, which we apply with a sponge. We remove dirt with a soft brush, in a circular motion. Finally, we wipe the chairs and protect them with a care product, such as a spray that will protect the leather from drying, UV rays or paint removal. 

Prizes

Most automotive cosmetics - shampoos, waxes, upholstery cleaners, wet wipes for windows and cabs, etc. - are available in every hypermarket at prices ranging from a few to tens of zlotys. As a rule, leather upholstery care products will be the most expensive. We will spend from PLN 200 on a pressure washer. For 5-9 zlotys we will wash the car at a manual self-service car wash, and at an automatic car wash it will cost about a dozen zlotys. We will pay the most for a hand wash serviced by employees - from about PLN 20 for an external wash plus a few PLN for waxing. When deciding to wash the chassis in such a car wash, we must take into account the cost of PLN 100. 

Text and photo: Piotr Walchak