There is no doubt that winter weather will take a toll on your automobile, even with the end of all of the snow, ice, rain and tough driving conditions. However, a few simple tips from Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois can help you eradicate wintertime harm and assist motorists in preserving and protecting one of their largest investments. CARSTAR is North America’s number one collision center and pro in the field of auto exteriors.
With the salt, gunk and road debris that can eat away at your paint job and exterior to the dings and dents associated with driving your car on slippy roadways, Ol’ Man Winter is very hard on the car. Just a few painless guidelines from Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR experts can aid motorists in getting rid of winter damage quicker than they can put up their winter clothing and get their vehicle ready for the coming spring season, while also improving the overall appearance, functionality and enduring property value of their truck or car.
The real key to remember is getting your vehicle totally washed and restored, eliminating the sand and salt that can easily cause decay as well as problems for the car’s finish, then examining small dents that can turn into very massive headaches when left in disrepair. Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois, which also serves Waterloo, Southern Illinois, Millstadt, Freeburg, and New Athens, is pleased to offer these tips for eliminating wintertime grime.
1. Give it a nice bath with a car wash soap to remove any remaining winter sand, dirt, grime and salt while not removing wax protection.
2. Clean out the engine bay to eliminate all damaging residue. Warm up the engine for a couple of minutes, then spray water throughout the whole engine with a hose and nozzle. Don't forget to spray the underbody of the car as well as all of the wheel wells to get rid of salt and sand.
3. Remove the tar and other debris by using an adhesive and wax remover. All you need to do is rub it on with a micro-fiber piece of cloth, let it sit for a minute or two to loosen dirt, old wax and tar, then simply wipe it off.
4. Clean both the wheels and the tires to remove any brake dust, salt and highway grime.
5. Give your tires a brand new finish with the use of a tire restorer. Simply spray it on and wipe it off for a deep ebony shine.
6. Give the car a protective coating of synthetic wax which will chemically bond with the clear coat finish to make sure that the car’s finish continues to look good.
7. Lubricate the door, hood and trunk hinges, locks and any other moving parts by applying a spray lubricant that will lubricate, penetrate, displace water and resist the effects of corrosion.
8. Get your glass cleaned on the inside and outside for dazzlingly shining windows.
9. Protect and clean the upholstery with a vinyl and leather restorer, which will revive the natural glossly and smooth feel of the factory finish.
10. Clean the carpet in the car to remove any remaining winter salt and dirt.
Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR experts would also like to remind drivers that there is one more very important step in the spring cleaning process, that step being the inspection of the vehicle for exterior damages caused by things like winter road debris, potholes and slippery conditions, all of which have the ability to leave dents, dings and scratches hiding under your car’s winter coat of gunk. They also advise doing a thorough review of the car from bumper to bumper and that you carefully consider what to do with any new damage. Do not neglect to remember that the smallest of scratches and the most minuscule of dents may turn into rust spots and possibly bigger issues when left untreated.
The recognized professionals at Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois can offer a detailed spring cleaning itinerary for your car or truck, with paint touch-up, dent and scratch repair and more, all at a very affordable price.
With the salt, gunk and road debris that can eat away at your paint job and exterior to the dings and dents associated with driving your car on slippy roadways, Ol’ Man Winter is very hard on the car. Just a few painless guidelines from Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR experts can aid motorists in getting rid of winter damage quicker than they can put up their winter clothing and get their vehicle ready for the coming spring season, while also improving the overall appearance, functionality and enduring property value of their truck or car.
The real key to remember is getting your vehicle totally washed and restored, eliminating the sand and salt that can easily cause decay as well as problems for the car’s finish, then examining small dents that can turn into very massive headaches when left in disrepair. Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois, which also serves Waterloo, Southern Illinois, Millstadt, Freeburg, and New Athens, is pleased to offer these tips for eliminating wintertime grime.
1. Give it a nice bath with a car wash soap to remove any remaining winter sand, dirt, grime and salt while not removing wax protection.
2. Clean out the engine bay to eliminate all damaging residue. Warm up the engine for a couple of minutes, then spray water throughout the whole engine with a hose and nozzle. Don't forget to spray the underbody of the car as well as all of the wheel wells to get rid of salt and sand.
3. Remove the tar and other debris by using an adhesive and wax remover. All you need to do is rub it on with a micro-fiber piece of cloth, let it sit for a minute or two to loosen dirt, old wax and tar, then simply wipe it off.
4. Clean both the wheels and the tires to remove any brake dust, salt and highway grime.
5. Give your tires a brand new finish with the use of a tire restorer. Simply spray it on and wipe it off for a deep ebony shine.
6. Give the car a protective coating of synthetic wax which will chemically bond with the clear coat finish to make sure that the car’s finish continues to look good.
7. Lubricate the door, hood and trunk hinges, locks and any other moving parts by applying a spray lubricant that will lubricate, penetrate, displace water and resist the effects of corrosion.
8. Get your glass cleaned on the inside and outside for dazzlingly shining windows.
9. Protect and clean the upholstery with a vinyl and leather restorer, which will revive the natural glossly and smooth feel of the factory finish.
10. Clean the carpet in the car to remove any remaining winter salt and dirt.
Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR experts would also like to remind drivers that there is one more very important step in the spring cleaning process, that step being the inspection of the vehicle for exterior damages caused by things like winter road debris, potholes and slippery conditions, all of which have the ability to leave dents, dings and scratches hiding under your car’s winter coat of gunk. They also advise doing a thorough review of the car from bumper to bumper and that you carefully consider what to do with any new damage. Do not neglect to remember that the smallest of scratches and the most minuscule of dents may turn into rust spots and possibly bigger issues when left untreated.
The recognized professionals at Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois can offer a detailed spring cleaning itinerary for your car or truck, with paint touch-up, dent and scratch repair and more, all at a very affordable price.