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Putting salt down on the roads immediately after a snowfall is necessary to keep everyone safe. These chemicals on our roadways are specifically designed to dissolve into snow and ice, lowering the water’s freezing point to keep it in a state that isn’t as slippery. Mixing sand with the salt is also helpful to improve traction and keep the salt in place.
With the primary danger of a snowfall being the slippery conditions, this salt and sand mixture is the best strategy to keep you safe. But, what do these chemicals do to your car?
Salt Corrosion on Your Car
With safety being the top priority, the health of your car’s exterior takes a back seat. Corrosive chemicals from the road can embed themselves in your car’s undercarriage and eat away at crucial components. This can translate to expensive repairs when the shocks, brakes or other parts give way.
Your car’s coat of paint isn’t too keen on salt and sand either. Rust can eat away at the exterior until your vehicle becomes an eyesore of decaying metal. As your vehicle deteriorates before your eyes, its structural integrity reminds you of a fast-approaching date with a junkyard.
How to Fight Off Rust and Corrosion
Preventing car corrosion before it gets bad is a two-fold operation:
- Wash Your Car’s Undercarriage Regularly
- Use a Wax Finish on Your Car’s Exterior
Washing your car on a regular basis is not just about the skin deep beauty of your vehicle. Having a dirty car can lead to a lot of other issues. It is important to keep “wash the car” on your monthly maintenance checklist for your vehicle. Having a monthly car-washing habit or a planned day of the month to get the car washed will take the worry out of winter damage. By keeping up your car’s cleanliness on a regular basis, you’ll know your car’s next bubble bath is right around the corner.
Using a wax finish on your car’s exterior will also help to protect your coat of paint. The DMV recommends adding a wax coat before winter begins. Once the rust begins to bubble around the edges of the car’s body, it’s too late to begin preventative measures. But, if you can catch the issue before it starts, you won’t have to worry about trying to fight off the rust and corrosion.
In addition to prevent the corrosive elements of winter, you can also check out our checklist for cooler weather.
If you are local to the Richmond, Chesterfield, or Colonial Heights areas, Flagstop Car Wash makes regular car washes as easy as possible. For the price of a monthly gym membership, you can take your car to the wash as many times as you please and get our best wash on the menu. Visit our RVA Wash Club page to learn more.
