Winter in Edmonton brings icy roads, cold weather, and lots of road salt. While road salt is essential for keeping the streets safe by reducing ice, it can cause serious damage to your car’s paint if not properly managed. Our auto detailing in Edmonton has experience with the impact that road salt can have on a vehicle’s exterior. That’s why we’re committed to providing comprehensive winter protection services to keep your car looking its best all season long.
Edmonton road salt is a mixture of salt and other chemicals that’s spread on the roads to prevent ice buildup and improve traction. Unfortunately, while road salt is great for safety, it’s not so great for your car’s paint. Salt is corrosive, meaning it can break down materials and cause them to rust. When road salt sits on your car’s surface, especially if it’s left there for a prolonged period, it can lead to paint degradation, rust, and other forms of damage.
If you want to keep your car looking its best and protect it from the harsh winter elements, understanding how road salt affects your vehicle is the first step. Let’s dive into the main reasons why road salt is so damaging to your car’s paint.
One of the biggest threats road salt poses is that it accelerates rust. Salt speeds up the oxidation process, which can cause metal components in your car to rust faster than normal. Once rust begins to form, it can quickly spread, affecting your car’s body and structure.
How to Stop It:
The best way to protect your car paint from road salt is with regular washing. During winter, try to wash your car at least once a week to remove salt buildup. Focus on washing the undercarriage and wheel wells, as these areas are highly exposed to road salt. Auto detailing in Edmonton can help ensure every inch of your car is protected from the corrosive effects of salt.
Your car’s clear coat acts as a protective layer applied on top of the paint to shield it from environmental elements. However, road salt is highly abrasive and can gradually wear down this clear coat. Without this protective barrier, your car’s paint is exposed to direct damage from salt and other contaminants.
How to Stop It:
Invest in a high-quality wax or sealant before winter to create an additional protective layer over your car’s clear coat. We offer winter detailing services that include waxing to provide added protection for your vehicle’s paint.
Another problem with road salt is that it leaves a residue on your car’s surface. If left unchecked, this residue can cause your paint to fade, discolour, or even become blotchy. This is particularly noticeable in dark-coloured vehicles, where the fading and discoloration are more apparent.
How to Stop It:
Apply a ceramic coating to your car’s exterior. Ceramic coatings provide long-lasting protection and prevent road salt from sticking to the paint. Our auto detailing in Edmonton uses nano ceramic coatings, graphene coating, semi-glossy and super glossy and LLumar valour to protect your car’s paint from fading and discoloration.
It’s not only your car’s paint that suffers from road salt. Plastic and rubber trims, such as door seals, window seals, and bumpers, are also at risk. Salt can cause these materials to dry out, crack, and wear down, leading to costly repairs.
How to Stop It:
Protect plastic and rubber trims with specialized trim protectants. These products are designed to develop a protective barrier that guards these materials from salt and prevents drying and cracking. We use high-quality trim protectants to keep your vehicle’s non-metal surfaces safe from winter damage.
One of the most problematic aspects of road salt is that it can easily infiltrate hard-to-reach areas of your car, such as the undercarriage, wheel wells, and corners. Once it accumulates in these hidden spots, it’s difficult to remove and can lead to rust and corrosion in places you might not immediately notice.
How to Stop It:
Regular underbody cleaning is essential for preventing salt buildup in hidden areas. Many car washes offer underbody cleaning, but a thorough auto detailing service can go even further in ensuring your vehicle is properly protected. Our winter detailing service includes undercarriage cleaning to remove road salt from hard-to-reach areas, providing your car with comprehensive protection.
In addition to the detailing services mentioned above, here are a few additional tips to help keep your car safe from Edmonton’s road salt this winter:
Edmonton’s road salt can be a car’s worst enemy, but with the right paint protection and care, you can prevent damage and maintain your vehicle looking its best. Our auto detailing in Edmonton offers a range of winter detailing services to protect your car from the damaging effects of road salt. From ceramic coatings to underbody cleaning, our team has the expertise to safeguard your vehicle through the toughest winter conditions.
Contact JRS Auto Detailing in Edmonton today to book your winter detailing service. Let our team help you maintain your car’s paint, interior, and overall integrity so it stays looking great all season long.
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