Protecting your Vehicle During Winter

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- Road salt is used to battle the icy roads and make driving conditions safe but, the salt can have a negative effect on your car.

Salt residue sticks to your car and leads to rust damage. Squiggly’s Car Wash General Manager Kyle King said the most important thing is to get your vehicle washed whenever any salt is stuck on your car. He said even if you know more salt will be on the road in the next couple of days, it’s best to not let the salt residue build up on your vehicle.

“Any amount of time that the salt sits on the car can let it oxidize on any bare metal. Actually, get up on any scratch you have on your paint,” said King.

King recommends getting a wash that has an undercarriage wash included to make sure all salt is cleaned. Not only on the easily visible parts of the car but underneath as well. He said the cold temperatures can scare off people from getting their car washed but actually a car wash can happen at almost any temperature.

“The only thing that really can affect that is us. It will just slow us down. What we’ll do is we’ll shut both doors. Just keeps our brushes from freezing up. Once it’s below 10 degrees, we’re usually open, we’re open but, we’re going to have the doors shut so it might not look like we’re open but you can just check the signs or call in,” said King.

King recommends washing your car about once a week in the winter to give it the best protection against the elements.