Things that will scratch your car this winter! (and how to avoid them)

Winter is tough on you and your car.

Snow brushes. These are probably the most common used tool to clean off a vehicle. The bristles are usually made out of nylon. They can leave small scratches on the clear coat. They will likely not leave any deep scratches unless you use the ice scraper side. The hard plastic scraper will definitely leave deep scratches.

Alternatives:

1. Park indoors or underneath a carport if possible.

2. Use a leaf blower to blow off the snow. It helps if the car was waxed before the winter.

3. Wrap a soft microfiber cloth over the bristles and check regularly for any dirt that might get trapped.

Car Washes. The day after it snows, a lot of people rush over to the car wash. It is a fast and cheap option to clean off a car. Unfortunately, the brushes, foam and brooms used at car washes may not always be cleaned frequently. In fact, the low prices may be a cause of concern when considering the quality of the service (see video below).

Alternatives:

1. Use a touch-less car wash instead of a traditional one. Some may be concerned over the strong chemicals used to clean the car. However, if a wax or sealant is applied after the car is clean, the paint will have a layer of protection. For most, this is the easiest and most convenient way to keep a car clean during the winter.

2. Use a self-service wash bay. We suggest to bring a glass cleaner, microfibers, a drying aid and a drying towel. Do not use the broom on your paint!

   1. Pre-rinse wheels and paint

   2. Rinse from top to bottom

   3. Snow foam and then rinse

   4. Spray drying aid and use plush microfiber to dry paint and avoid water marks

   5. Clean glass

Whenever drying your car, always use a plush microfiber. Never use a dirty microfiber on paint. Drying a dirty section and then your paint will cause scratches.

There is only so much you can do during the winter. For our personal vehicle, we use the two bucket wash method if possible during the winter. After the last snow fall, we wash, clay and polish our vehicle to remove all the contaminants and imperfections from the paint.