GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Car washes aren’t usually top of mind during Wisconsin winters, but car owners are urged to prioritize regular car washes to combat the corrosive effects of road salt.
“It is absolutely not too cold to wash your car, and it’s very important to wash it in the winter to make sure you’re getting any salt or pretreat off that vehicle,” said Becky Lewis, president of PDQ Car Washes.
Ray Vande Velden, owner of MJ Collision Center in Bellevue, emphasized the long-term damage road salt can cause.
“All that road salt just kind of sits there and then causes issues in the future, mainly just increased corrosion,” he said. “That liquid salt tends to dry out and do a finer powder and get farther in and around things.”
Corrosion from winter road treatments can affect not only the undercarriage, but also brake lines, suspension and body panels. To prevent this, frequent car washes are recommended.
“Anytime you see any pretreat on the road, any salt on the road, you want to get that vehicle washed quickly,” Lewis advised.
Despite freezing temperatures, Lewis assured that full-service washes prevent water from freezing on vehicles. “We’ll blow out any locks. If you have locks, we’ll also make sure we wipe down the door jams and everything really well,” she said.
For those opting for a quick exterior wash, Lewis recommended precautions, such as opening and closing all doors upon arrival and applying silicone spray to door seals. “And if you have an older vehicle, we recommend lock deicer,” she added.
Vande Velden also highlighted the benefits of waxing. “More likely for waters and stuff like that, to kind of roll off of it and not sit on there as thick or as long as something else might be,” he said.
Experts say regular maintenance, including car washes, is as essential as oil changes and tire rotations to keep vehicles in top condition during harsh winter months.
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