Prepare Your Interior for Winter
Last week, we talked about how to restore carpets that had taken a musty odour. This week, we take a more preventative stance. Read on to learn about how to properly get your vehicle ready for winter, so you can limit the amount of restoration to be done in the spring.
As long as you don’t track in too much sand and salt water, summer and the warmer months are relatively easy on your car’s interior. However, winter is extremely harsh. Salty road treatments end up soaking your floor mats, carpets, and seats, resulting in nasty stains and smells. The dry air sucks the moisture from leather, leaving it brittle and prone to cracking. Check out the following tips to help you get your ride ready for winter, and stay on top of the elements.
Add Rubber Mats to Flooring
If you’re walking around in a scarf and parka, chances are you won’t be hauling out your mats to give them a thorough scrub in the driveway. Due to the discomfort of winter, and how everything seems to just take longer when it’s cold out, winter maintenance is 90% about prevention, rather than cleaning. The first step to preparing your car for winter is removing your carpeted floor mats and replacing them with rubber.
Fabric mats absorb water, and when it’s cold, won’t let that water go. Beneath the mats, your carpet will suffer if it gets wet and salty, and could even lead to a rusted out floor. A set of rubberized or hard plastic floor mats will keep moisture contained during the winter, therefore keeping your floor dry. Look for mats with deep channels that can trap snow and water, preventing spillage.
If you're looking for the best protection, seek out the mats that are custom molded to fit your vehicle. The specifically made mats do the best job of protecting your carpet from water, dirt, and salt (the holy trinity for rust and mildew).
If you’re looking for the best protection, seek out the mats that are custom molded to fit your vehicle. The specifically made mats do the best job of protecting your carpet from water, dirt, and salt (the holy trinity for rust and mildew). These mats can demand a high price, but you really do get what you pay for.
Avoid mats that are flat and have no channels. These don’t really do anything to protect the carpets, so they aren’t even worth the effort.
Treat Leather Early
Even notice how your lips get chapped in the winter? The same thing happens to your leather upholstery. Cold air draws the moisture out of leather, meaning that you need to treat leather before the cold temps roll in. Once the daily highs dip below about 10C, your leather won’t even accept conditioners, so time is of the essence. Treating leather in cold conditions will provide an aesthetic boost, but not actually fix anything.
If fall has you scrambling, and you don’t have time to treat your leather, don’t worry – that’s why we’re here.
Soft Tops
Soft convertible tops require treatment to keep them waterproof. Soft tops need to be kept clean and protected to let water bead off, and prevent penetration. If water finds it way into the fabric and then freezes, it could cause serious damage. Soft tops need to be thoroughly sealed before they are used in winter. Even if you plan to leave your car in the garage all winter, it needs to be treated so the fabric doesn’t become stiff and brittle.
Remove Salt Stains Immediately
Despite our best efforts with rubberized floor mats and seat covers, sometimes water finds its way through. The smallest amount of salty water can cause serious stains to upholstery on seats and the floors. For preventative measures, use a Scotch Guard on your fabric upholstery to make spring cleaning easier. If that doesn’t quite cut it, bring your car in for an interior detail in the spring or check out this guide for removing salt stains from your carpets.
Trust CJ’s for All Your Detailing Needs
We hope you have found this article useful in getting your car ready for the cold spell. Just remember, no matter what happens, chances are the pros can set things right for you (it’s why we’re here!). From all of us at CJ’s, we hope you have a safe and clean winter driving season.