What You Can do to Prepare your Car for Spring

prepare your car for spring

With winter in your rearview mirror, it’s time to gear up for the warmer months ahead. Apart from the usual technical maintenance that should be performed along with the change of season, you should also pay close attention to road conditions and change your tires accordingly. Once your vehicle is technically sound, it’s time to take a look at the aesthetic aspects.

Thorough Wash

During the winter, it’s no secret that dirt and road salt can build up on your vehicle. Even if you don’t notice it at first, a quick look at the undercarriage of your car can often prove quite shocking. Those who live in seaside locations know just how much damage salt can cause to any vehicle. Regular cleaning in winter is important and a thorough wash at the start of spring is essential. This is all the more reason to have your vehicle professionally detailed to get it ready for spring. A professional wash is also essential before waxing or polishing your vehicle. It will help ensure that you enjoy the best results.

Wax or Polish

Whether you wax or polish will depend on your current maintenance routine. If you polished your vehicle just before the winter, you might not need to polish it again right away. A wax could suffice. Remember, waxing and polishing each offer a layer of protection. Polishing, however, also helps get rid of fine scratches. Since polish is abrasive by nature, it removes a fine layer of the topcoat of paint. This is why it is not something that you should do every couple of months. If you are unsure about the best option for you, ask your local car detailing specialist. No matter which one you choose, remember that adding a layer of protection is essential if you want to protect your paintwork against damage and fading. Wax and polish are also excellent for preventing water from staying on your car so, during the rainy season, you can be sure that your vehicle will be that much easier to clean.

Treat the Trim

Some cars have chrome trim, others have plastic and there might even be a combination of materials used. It’s important to understand that different materials respond to different treatments. Plastic trim in particular can experience a great deal of wear during extreme cold and very high temperatures. It can cause the plastic to become brittle and crack. So, make sure that you get any plastic features treated regularly and always do your best to park your car in the shade.

Interior Treatments

The interior of your vehicle is just as important when it comes to seasonal maintenance. Just like the exterior trim, any interior trim needs to be treated and protected from the sun. Dashboards are known to crack due to the impact of the sun. The good news is that you can protect yours with the right treatments and by using a sun visor whenever parking your car in a sunny spot. If you have leather upholstery, you should definitely treat the leather to a hydrating treatment to prevent it from becoming hard and cracking. Other types of upholstery and carpets can be steamed and cleaned to ensure that your car is fresh and germ-free.

Special Treatments

Your auto detailing specialist should offer a full range of services including headlight treatments, pet hair removal, odour neutraliser, engine dressing and so on. Each of these is optional and allows every car owner to select additional services based on their personal needs.

Maintenance Schedule

Once your car is in its best possible condition, it’s a good idea to establish a regular detailing routine with a professional. Knowing when and how often each treatment should be applied is important when it comes to maintaining the condition and value of your vehicle. All vehicles lose value over time but you can still take the necessary measures to keep any depreciation to a minimum.

At Wash Me Now, we are proud to offer a full range of professional detailing services. Our team is fully mobile. Contact us at (647) 607-5199 to schedule your appointment with us. No matter where you are in the Greater Toronto Area, our team will come to you prepared with everything needed to get your car ready for spring and the warmer months ahead.