Winter Car Care
Tips from the Expert

Regardless of what part of the world you live, Winter car care is going to become an added concern for any car owner who actually cares about preserving the beauty and resale value of their car.

If you are one such person then continue reading as I lay out some additional tips to help you and your car survive the winter months.

Regardless of the conditions your car must endure during winter months, there are 3 main points to winter car care:

• Consistency (on a scheduled routine)
  
• Frequency (more often, not less often)
  
• Protection (apply a good car wax or paint sealant)
  

It's a Jungle Out There:
Winter only makes it worse!

While those three points will seem obvious to most, I think most people underestimate just how critical each of those points are to actually put into practice.

Consistency and Frequency: While consistency may seem the same as frequency, they in fact are different. I could be consistent about cleaning my car as part of my winter car care, but if you are only consistently doing it once every 3 months, this is not the same as being consistent with winter car care and doing it every month!

Which leads directly into frequency. The more frequent you are able to take extra steps of maintenance and protection, the more you can expect to reap the positive effects of your efforts.

Washing Car:
Don't over-think it

Yes; this is a glaring obvious and I know I don't need to tell you but washing your car as often as possible, is your first line in defense for diminishing the harmful effects of the winter months.

It is far better to wash your car with methods that are less than ideal rather than allowing the accumulated dirt, snow, and sleet to remain on your car for extended periods of time.

It is far better to find products you like, and a method that you can perform regularly, than to spend valuable time searching for the best car washing shampoo or technique. Your car will only suffer the more you delay this initial step of winter car care.

Car Washing Kit

Chemical Guys Wash Kit on Amazon

• Perfect car washing kit
• The exact wash mitt I use professionally and the one I recommend most
• Excellent car wash shampoo
• Perfect wash bucket (snap on lid is easier than the more expensive screw on lids)
• Dirt trap insert that captures dirt below, to keep dirt separate from wash water as you are washing (ideal for heavy washing duties during winter months)

Darren's Tips: Your goal is to wash your car as frequently as you can during winter months when you car needs it most. this kit is perfect for the bullet points stated above.

I like this specific kit as it represents the winning balance in quality product and "tools". You could spend hours reading about the separate components of this kit alone. But this will not get you any further to actually washing your car.

Car Drying Cloth

Meguiar's Water Magnet on Amazon

• Likely the best drying towel for your car you have ever used
• Lint free and highly absorbent
• As soft and friendly on your paint as you can get
• Perfect size (not too big, not too small)

Darren's Tips: I love this drying towel! I am amazed at how many people I still observe in neighborhoods who still use common bath towels to dry their cars with. These towels might feel soft to your skin, but they really do mar and scratch your car paint when compared to a quality drying cloth like this one from Meeguair's.

Not only is this drying cloth super safe, but highly absorbent and totally lint free! A winning balance when winter car care will prove a difficult task anyways!

Detailing Clay

Chemical Guys Clay Bar Kit on Amazon

• Perfect clay bar kit to decontaminate car paint
• Comes with detailing clay and lubricant
• Great kit, great reviews —you will be satisfied!

Darren's Tips: You may never have heard of detailing clay until now. There are endless types of pollutants floating around in the air. Some of these dirt particles will attach to your paint and become bonded.

The only way to remove these boded paint contaminants is through the use of a clay bar. Winter car care will only make this worse as you will get road grime of many types kicked up onto your car paint from snow, rain, and salt. 

If you have never decontaminated your car paint you need to do it anyways. it will be something you need to do after washing your car, prior to waxing your car. This will also become part of ongoing maintenance just like many other tasks of cosmetic car care.

Using the clay bar can be as frequent as you determine based on how your paint feels after washing it. Your paint should feel silky smooth.

Best Car Wax

Meguiar's Gold Class Wax on Amazon

• Time tested, sure thing!
• The durability of a paste wax
• Hybrid chemistry combining the best in carnauba and polymer technology

Darren's Tips: I love this paste wax from Meguiar's! Apply this to your car as the foundational base coat at the beginning of winter and then again once Spring sets in.

Super easy to use with a great user experience. 

Best Paint Sealant

Cerakote Ceramic Sealant on Amazon

• Industry-Leading 50-Wash Rating: Upgraded from a top-performing paint sealant to deliver even better longevity and maximum durability.
• Maximum Gloss & Shine: Easily achieve a mirror-like, showroom finish right from your own driveway.
• Quick & Easy Application: Just spray a light coat onto a clean, dry panel and lightly buff to a high shine—no complex steps required.
• Extremely Hydrophobic: Utilizing true ceramic technology, it aggressively repels water, mud, dirt, and road grime to keep your vehicle cleaner for longer.
• Unsurpassed Slickness: Delivers an incredibly smooth, ultra-slick finish you can instantly feel.

Darren's Tips: If you are a believer and fan of sealants then you will want to lean into this ceramic sealant from Cerakote! Sealants will generally outlast most paste waxes by a significant amount.

Any car owner will appreciate the ability for enhanced protection during winter months when detailing your car is less than  optimal!

Tire Dressing

Chemical Guys VRP on Amazon

• Restores a Deep, Satin Look: Professional-grade formula restores a rich, deep, like-new appearance to interior and exterior vinyl, rubber, and plastic without leaving a greasy residue.
• Non-Greasy & Dry-to-the-Touch: Leaves a clean, satin finish that dries completely to the touch and won’t attract dust or dirt.
• Harsh Weather Protection: Shields sensitive automotive surfaces from harmful sun exposure, preventing fading, cracking, and discoloration.
• Versatile Application: Works excellently as a trim and tire restorer on dashboards, door panels, bumpers, weatherstripping, and engine bay plastics.

Darren's Tips: If you live in an area where winter means snow and sleet, you may consider tire dressing a waste of your time and effort. I look at tire dressing as a sacrificial barrier that allows me to clean my tires sidewalls of unwanted winter sludge in a more efficient manner. 

Dressing Applicator

Kraft Tool PL600L General Purpose Large Turtle Back Cellulose Sponge Box

• The perfect dressing applicator from a different industry
• This is a 2 for one deal (cut in half for the perfect tire dressing applicator, and now you also have 2 applicators for the price of one)
• Perfect ergonomics for your hand when cut in half

Darren's Tips: Often I find myself going outside this industry to find that perfect tool. This grout sponge is a perfect example. I have been using this as my preferred tire dressing applicator for over 15 years.

I cut it in half and I get two for the price of one. It also creates multiple surfaces and edges to finesse the moment based on your particular tire side wall. I don't recommend using this on the interior unless you reserve one half for the interior of your car, and the other half for the exterior.

Use this dressing on your tires and any black plastic trim on your car. Especially useful for your winter car care duties!

Winter Car Care Tips:
Action plan

Finding the right products and tools is a big part of cosmetic car care in general. Certainly a big part of your defense in winter car care.

Having the right arsenal of products and tools will help you perform the requirements of car care during the winter months more often, not less often. After all, winter is a difficult time as people never mind our cars.

You don't need additional excuses and reasons not to perform tasks that are naturally hard and time consuming. Your car needs the cleaning and protection during winter months as much as your car needs it during summer months.

• Wash car as frequently as possible (this is truly the most important thing you can do if you can't find the resolve to perform any other tasks)
• Never rinse your car off and allow to drip dry (hard water spots are worse than the dirt itself)
• Use detailing clay initially for a first time, then whenever your paint starts to feel gritty after washing it
• Apply wax at least two separate times during the winter months to spread out the duration of protection

Some Additional Winter Car Care Tips

I get it...keeping up with normal car care is hard enough during good weather. Winter car care is going to make the requirements of your car 10 times worse. At least if you live in the northern hemisphere.

Which is part of my goal for you with my specific recommendations. You want something that is already naturally hard to be easier, not harder. You will already struggle enough to perform these requirements under the best of circumstances.

I don't want the feeling of dread to be associated with your list of chosen products and tools to add to the natural dread you will likely have when it comes to winter car care.

The main point I am trying to make are these two things:

• Consistency (follow my tips on a routine basis)
  
• Frequency (the more often you can do any or all of these tips, the better for your car)
  

The harsher the winter environment is, the more diligence required from you during winter months. The longer you allow winter dirt to sit on your car, the worse it is.

Your devotion to the health and beauty of your car will determine how frequently you are willing to do what needs doing.

Winter Car Care Summary

My goal has been to help you become a more informed car owner and consumer. I hope I have helped in some small way.

This industry is filled with endless hype and I find that even myself can get overwhelmed easily with the countless choices and options in products.

I wish you much success in your detailing efforts!

Sincerely,

Darren Priest