Spring is here. The last of the snowbanks are finally melting away, and the roads are free of slush. However, road salt sticks to your vehicle’s exterior and gets embedded in the fibres of your interior. While some of this post-winter salt clean-up is doable at home, other parts benefit from a professional eye.
A classic Canadian winter experience is tracking salt wherever you go. Even after the snow melts away, you’ll find white salt stains inside your vehicle, or a fine white layer of salt on your tires, bumpers, wheel wells, and undercarriage.
Road salt is highly hygroscopic, meaning it attracts and retains moisture. Even after the roads dry out, road salt continues to draw moisture from whatever surface it is sitting on.
Spring is the perfect time to quickly address any accumulated winter road salt and prevent damage.
If you catch interior salt stains early, you can easily clean them at home.
Regular cleaners are alkaline, but so is road salt. Use something mildly acidic, like vinegar, to help break down the dried-up salt.
Spray or dab a diluted white vinegar mixture onto any stains and let it rest for around 10 minutes. Work at the stain with a stiff brush and then blot with dry towels. Repeat the process as many times as needed for stubborn stains.
The vinegar mixture is effective but can leave a strong smell. Once the stains are gone, use an upholstery cleaner to remove dirt and grime and leave a fresh smell. Apply based on the product’s instructions. Work the cleaner in with a brush on heavier stains. Wipe up the cleaner with towels or use a wet-dry vacuum to reduce drying time.
While small interior salt stains can be tackled at home, there are some jobs best left for the professionals.
Professional interior detailing goes much deeper to remove salt stains. A professional service uses hot water extraction to penetrate carpets and seats to pull out salt residue, moisture, and grime.
A professional detail also includes cleaning door jambs and sills, where salt-laden slush tends to collect.
Salt can accumulate in areas that are hard to see and even harder to clean, like wheel wells, brake components, undercarriage, exhaust system, and on your suspension. A thorough under spray at a car washis a good starting point, but rinsing alone won’t be enough to fully remove road salt.
Professional detailing uses professional-grade tools, products, and expertise to safely reach under your car and properly remove salt from all metal components. A professional detailer can apply corrosion-inhibiting sprays and undercoating treatments to protect metal from moisture. If the vehicle already has surface corrosion, a professional can assess the damage and treat it before it spreads.
After many months of cold weather, heavy salt use, and rough roads, spring is the perfect checkpoint for your vehicle’s health. During a seasonal inspection, your technician will look for
Try to pair a spring maintenance service with exterior and interior cleaning to make sure your car is clear of winter salt build-up and is ready for spring and summer road trips ahead.Interior salt stains are manageable at home with the right approach, but exterior and undercarriage maintenance is best left for a professional. Visit your local NAPA AUTOPRO service centre for a spring inspection and ask about rust protection treatments to get ahead of next winter’s salty roads.
