When you wash your car regularly in winter, it is easy to focus on the large painted panels. Salt and damp road grime also collect on door edges, along the sills, inside the wheel arches and on the wheels. Where paint is damaged, such as at open stone chips, salty moisture can encourage corrosion.

Where to take a closer look

  • Door edges and sills: Spray and pale salt marks can linger here. Check these areas with the doors open.
  • Wheel arches and underbody: Slush can linger in sheltered recesses. An underbody clean reaches areas an exterior wash misses.
  • Wheels: Salt mixes with road dirt and brake dust. A targeted wheel clean removes this residue with products suited to the finish.

Rinse off salt and check the paint before winter

Rinse away salt and grit before wiping the paint. Before the first snowfall, check for exposed paint damage and consider protecting the sound finish. A suitable sealant can make salt and grime easier to wash off later. For more detail on how different parts of the car are affected, see our article Does road salt damage a car?.