Car Valeting for Winter
& Summer

Winter Woes
When winter comes around, you may find that in the newspapers or on television, someone will do an article telling you to prepare your car for winter. Usually this involves checking the washer bottles and topping up with antifreeze.

What they seldom mention is that winter is the time that most damage and corrosion happens to your car. Your car ages in winter. In fact, we estimate that 75% of a car's ageing happens in the winter.

It's hardly surprising when you think about it, the roads are wet most of the time, the council puts down salt and grit, and all this sprays up and sticks to your car, harbouring pollutants such as metals and acids.

It's not just your exterior which suffers from the winter. Damp and dirt gets into your carpet, and eventually your seats. Dirt is abrasive, which is why they use it on sandpaper, and it has much the same effect on your upholstery, speeding up the process of wear by many times.

The Solution - there is so much we can do!
Valeting your car before winter sets in can protect it from the worst of the damage. We begin a valet by using a hot pressure washer which blasts dirt and grime from all the little nooks and crannies. This dirt harbours all the nasty stuff which causes corrosion and rust and it is essential that it be removed. Regular washing by hand just can't get to it, and automated car washes tend to add to it by pushing dirt into the hard to get areas.

Next, we attend to stone chips and scratches because these break the paintwork. The paintwork is not just there to look pretty, it's the last line of defence against rust... and unless you apply a good quality wax or sealant, it's the only line of defence. This is why we recommend a long life wax or a one year sealant to see you through the winter. These protect your paintwork so that your paintwork can protect your bodywork.

Then we shampoo and/or vacuum the interior. The less dirt in your upholstery, the less the abrasive effects. Keeping the levels of dirt down will extend the life of your upholstery. Adding a protectant such as Scotchgard will also further protect the fibres because it is a coating.

Bare metal will rust. That should come as no surprise, but what should is the fact that most cars come out of the factory with lots of bare metal in the engine compartment. Earth connection points, brackets and screws are all unprotected in 99% of modern cars. Within a very short period of time this can lead to bad electrical connections and pieces of trim falling off. This is why, during certain valets, we treat the engine bay with WD-40 moisture protection, Hammerite Waxoyl and white grease. Not only will this prevent corrosion, but by treating the battery terminals and other electrical areas, we make sure that the damp stays out of your engine and your car starts first time.

All of the above are a worthwhile investment because they will protect your car, helping it to maintain its value and stay younger looking (despite being asked, our treatments only make cars look younger, not people).

There are other valet services we can provide which will make the winter pass more easily. Rain-X will repel water from your windows, increasing visibility, as will our de-misting agents on the inside of the glass. Greasing the locks and hinges and treating the door rubbers with silicone will prevent them from freezing shut. And an air freshener helps keep that damp smell at bay.

The view from outside my cabin, this photo taken on my last fact finding mission to Sweden (I kid you not!). To find out what I found out, click here to read my report. by Danny Argent

Spring & Summer valeting
Once you have made it though the winter, we recommend a spring clean. Although your car may have been protected from road salts, dirt and grime, these will still have accumulated and if left will cause damage.

It's also time to replenish your coating of wax. Waxes and sealants provide protection from the summer sun's harmful UV rays which fade your paintwork. They also provide resistance against the corrosive chemical effects of bird droppings, tree sap and squashed bugs.

Besides, if you are going to cruise around in the summer sun with the windows wound down, you may as well do it in a clean glossy car. If your car looks good, it makes you look good!