Should You Detail Your Car In The Winter?

There’s nothing like a newly detailed car. It’s so shiny and clean, and it helps to keep your car in good condition. All around wins to be had! But when winter rears its ugly head, should you even bother with trying to detail your car? After all, won’t the slushy, dirty roads make your car’s interior and exterior all grimey again as soon as you drive away from the detailer?

We hear you. There’s a reason why winter is the most damaging season for vehicles. However, the fact that winter does make it so challenging to keep your car clean is precisely why it’s more important than ever to try to do so.

Here’s what you need to know about the damage that winter can do to your car, considerations with detailing your car, and what to do if you want to detail your car in the winter. Let’s get into it. 

The Damage Winter Can Cause To Your Car

It’s generally recommended to wash your car weekly during the winter months in order to prevent damage. If that seems like a lot, learning the damage that can result from not doing so may change your mind. Some of the damage that winter can cause to your car is as follows.

• Snow, salt, rain, wind, and the like can all damage your car.
• Increased road debris means increased risk for scratches.
• Moisture can get into the scratches. As it freezes and thaws, this can weaken and crack your paint.
• Leather interiors have moisture pulled from them by cold, dry air.
• Snow, ice, and scraping to remove them can damage your windows.
• Road salt can harm your car by removing paint and exposing your undercarriage to the elements, as well as staining your car’s interior.

Washing your car as often as possible helps to prevent the damage that winter can do to your car, such as paint damaging oxidation. If you have to park outside, using a car cover can prevent winter damage (as well as keep you from having to bust out the ice scrapers on your way to work or home from work).

For even better protection, you can detail your car in the winter.

Should You Detail Your Car In The Winter?

Yes, you absolutely should. While many people think car details are basically just fancy car washes, this isn’t the case. Details clean your car, true. But they also protect it through the use of sealants. Such sealants can protect your car’s interior and exterior from the elements, resisting potential damage and helping you keep your car in good condition for as long as possible. 

For instance, if you have a leather interior, you’re probably worried about the damage cold weather can do. You don’t want your leather seats to crack from the lack of humidity. In an interior detail, your leather seats would be conditioned in order to provide the necessary moisture absorption.

In addition to your paint, your windows, and your interior, if you detail your car in the winter, you can also protect your tires. Detailers add a protectant to your tires that can help them with their constant contact with road salt and de-icing chemicals. 

It’s generally recommended to detail your car 2-3 times a year, or every 4-6 months. However, if you drive a lot, have kids or pets, are generally a messy person, or you really value the appearance of your vehicle, you may need more frequent details than this.

What To Do If You Want To Detail Your Car In The Winter

With how hard winter is on our cars, it’s important to ensure that you’re taking yours to a professional detailer to prevent further problems. A detail is meant to refresh and help protect your car, after all, not cause scratches and other such problems.

Here at Layton Car Care, we provide all the necessary services that you need to help you keep your car in good condition – not just in the winter, but all year round. From our professional detailing services to auto repairs, we’re passionate about helping Utah drivers stay safe by taking care of their vehicles. 

Our detailing services truly do just that – we focus on all of the details in order to ensure that your car looks and feels its best. From interior details, to exterior details, to the full package, count on us to make your car shine. Contact us today to learn more about our auto detailing services or any of the other car care services that we provide.