Spring Cleaning for Your Car!
The winter ice is thawing and spring is just around the corner! With the warmer weather comes the promise of barbeques, baseball games, blue skies, and of course spring-cleaning. After a long, harsh winter, nothing needs a thorough spring-cleaning as much as your car. Months of exposure to snow, ice, corrosive road salt, traction sand, and debris can wreak havoc on both your vehicle's interior and exterior. To prevent minor winter damage from becoming a costly problem down the road, we recommend that you take the following steps:
- Thorough Hand-Washing, Inside and Out – After cleaning the interior, park your car in a shady spot and fill a bucket with tepid soapy water. Wet the car's exterior with a hose (preferably a mist-spray nozzle) and gently sponge all areas. Be sure to thoroughly wash your tires, bumper, and fender. Subsequently, turn the power up on your hose and blast the undercarriage/wheel wells to remove as much salt buildup as possible. Lastly, use a soft cloth to dry the vehicle, and finish it all off with a layer of wax.
- Inspect for Small Dings, Dents, and Rust – As your washing the car, be on the lookout for small abrasions, nicks, or scratches (especially in the undercarriage). Repair any damage as soon as possible to prevent rust from forming. If there are any suspicious areas, have a mechanic look at them immediately. Pay special attention to brake, steering, and exhaust components that were exposed to the snow, salt, and grime on the roads.
- Inspect Weather-Stripping – Anything that looks cracked, brittle, or mildew should be replaced as soon as possible. As an added precaution, spray the weather-stripping with a silicone spray to ensure that it is waterproof.
- Replace Windshield Wiper Blades/Air Filters – Prepare yourself for those April showers by replacing your windshield wiper blades. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, change the cabin air filter.
Clear the Air This Spring – Vehicle Filtration Systems Explained
For those of you who suffer from spring allergies, this article is for you! While you might be bombarded by seasonal pollen outside, you'll be sneeze-free in your car thanks to its cabin air filter. A vehicle's filtration system works with its heating and air conditioning components to create a clean, comfortable, and temperature controlled driving environment. In particular, the cabin air filter is responsible for removing pollen, dust, and debris from the air that is being circulated throughout the vehicle.
The cabin air filter is a pleated paper filter that is mounted to a frame and placed in front of the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system—usually behind the dashboard. When you adjust the temperature in your vehicle, the HVAC's fans pull outside air into the car and push it through either the heating or AC components. Once the air's temperature is adjusted, it is blown through the cabin air filter and into the car.
Over time, this filter can become clogged, causing diminished airflow and odors. To prevent this, the cabin air filter should be removed and replaced periodically. The standard air filter replacement schedule is every 12,000 to 15,000 miles or once a year. For maximum benefit, however, we recommend that it be changed twice a year. If you're having trouble, give us a call or visit us online. We're always here to help!