spring cleaning

Low temperatures, snow and salt sprinkled on the roads can affect every car. Since winter is almost over, we can seriously take care of our car.

After the winter period, it is worth washing the car thoroughly, and not only its body, but also the chassis. This operation can be performed on an automatic or manual car wash. Each of them has staunch supporters and opponents. The big advantage of automatic washing is the possibility of washing at any time of the day or night, seven days a week. The wash time is short and several programs can be selected, including the chassis wash. All this for a small amount (PLN 25-30).

The advantage of manual washing is, first of all, high precision, which is so important when washing after the winter, and the possibility of outsourcing any additional actions, such as cleaning or repainting. Both car washes have disadvantages. The machine will not thoroughly wash the chassis, sills, inside of the door, wheel arches and rims. Using a manual washing machine is usually more expensive and takes longer to wash. However, in the case of general cleaning, it is worth using its services. Only manual washing can thoroughly remove dirt from all corners of the body and, above all, the chassis, which is most susceptible to corrosion. If we don't remove the salt, we can be sure that it will cause a lot of damage soon.

Start the overhaul with the chassis and then move on to the exterior and interior if necessary. After the "dirty work" is done, damage to the paint and loss in the anti-corrosion layer will become noticeable.

You can do the paint test yourself. It is enough to carefully examine each element of the body. The method of repair depends on the extent of the damage. When there are few of them and they are small, ordinary touch-ups are enough. Retouching varnish can be purchased at many stores. Its color is selected from the universal color palette or selected based on the factory marking. A factory stain often comes with a small brush and a mini brush that can be used to thoroughly remove the stain.

In case of serious damage, discoloration or corrosion, the intervention of a tinsmith and varnisher is required. It is not worth delaying the repair, because the damage can increase and corrode. The next step after filling the cavities is to protect the varnish with wax or another preparation with a similar effect.

Inspection of the undercarriage is difficult to do on your own, as you need a channel, ramp or lift and good lighting. If we decide to do this, special attention should be paid to the situation around the wheel arches and sills, since these places are most vulnerable to damage. Small cavities not yet affected by corrosion can be treated immediately with a preservative spray. In the case of large cavities, it is better to resume maintenance of the entire chassis.

External inspection after winter:

– thorough washing of the chassis in a manual car wash,

– body wash at a manual car wash,

– inspection of the paintwork and anti-corrosion protection,

– Compensation for the defects of the lacquer coating,

– varnish protection with wax or Teflon,

- cleaning and cleaning of the salon,

- tidy up the trunk

Prices for washing in manual washing machines in several cities in Poland

Service type	Prices for car wash services
	Olsztyn	Warsaw	Rzeszow	Krakow
body wash	12	30	15	16
Bottom washing	30	20	40	35
Flushing the engine	25	40	40	30
Waxing	30	30	20	25
Vacuum and clean interior	15	28	15	18