Expert Maintenance Tips to Get Your Car Road-Trip Ready for Spring

Depending on where you live, the winter months can be tough on your car. From the exterior getting coated with an unsavory mixture of salt, sand, ice, and slush, to all the detritus that gets brought into your car over the cold winter months, your vehicle could probably use some love and care as the weather warms up. From the best way to remove salt from your car to the DIY detailing work you can do, learn some effective car maintenance tips with Volkswagen of Topeka and get your vehicle ready for spring.  

Consult with our parts and service team in Topeka for tips on maintaining your car and how to best prepare your vehicle for all kinds of inclement weather conditions.

What Is The Best Way To Remove Salt From Your Car?

How To Remove Salt From Your Car’s Carpet

If you live anywhere that gets snowy or icy during the winter months, like Topeka, road salt is an inevitability that you’ll need to deal with. While necessary for de-icing roads and pedestrian walkways, road salt can corrode and rust your car and even damage critical parts like brake lines and fuel lines. While the solution for the exterior of your car can be as simple as taking it in for a wash and getting it waxed, what is the best way to remove salt from your car carpet? 

Fortunately, there’s a simple DIY solution you can try to remove salt from your car carpet. First, you’ll need the following supplies: 

• White vinegar
• Warm water
• A stiff brush
• A towel or paper towels
• A sponge

After you’ve gathered your supplies, try this: 

1. Create a 50:50 solution with the vinegar and water.
2. Spray down the carpet and let it sit for a few minutes.
3. Lightly scrub the surface of the carpet with the brush. This should loosen the salt. 
4. Soak up the excess solution and salt with your towel/paper towels.
5. Soak the sponge in warm water, and use it to blot the carpet. Be gentle, and try to avoid soaking the carpet as this may cause mildew if improperly dried.
6. Let your carpet air dry. Try leaving your car door open or using a fan to circulate air in your car cabin. This should speed up the drying process. 

How To Remove Salt From The Exterior Of Your Car 

Kansas City drivers know that while tracking salt on the interior of your car can damage the carpets, the exterior of your vehicle takes a veritable beating from both the cold weather and how we manage it. Exposure to salt, for example, can significantly damage and rust the undercarriage of your car, and the cold itself can cause rubber components like seals, gaskets, and hoses to become brittle, eventually leading to leaks.  

To best prepare your car for spring and to ensure that there isn’t any salt sneakily corroding important components, try the following DIY solution: 

1. Thoroughly hose off the exterior. Make sure to pay special attention to the undercarriage of your car and inside the wheel wells as you do so.
2. Wash the exterior of your car using car-washing soap. Take your time and be thorough!
3. After you rinse and dry your car, apply automotive wax. Not only will this give your car an attractive, glossy sheen, but it will also help to protect your paintwork from being damaged by environmental factors like salt. 

More Effective Car Maintenance Tips for Spring

Now that you know the best way to remove salt from your car, both inside and out, here are some additional effective car maintenance tips you can use to prepare your car for spring:  

• Check your wiper blades (they’ve been working hard all winter!)
• Top up fluids and check your engine compartment for brittle gaskets, seals, and hoses.
• Check and clean/replace filters as needed.
• Change your snow tires for all-weather tires.
• Check your tire pressure.
• Check your spare tire and replace it if it’s cracked, looks brittle, or dry.
• Get your battery checked.
• Check critical components like brakes, brake pads, rotors, and shock absorbers.
• Check alignment and steering. 

Contact us for more tips on how you can prepare your car for the changing seasons so it remains safe and serviceable for years to come! You can also ask us about our service specials and any service coupons we may have on offer. 

Learn Car Maintenance Tips for Spring & Beyond With Volkswagen of Topeka

As many Manhattan drivers already do, trust Volkswagen of Topeka to provide you with excellent tips on how you can best prepare your vehicle for upcoming seasonal changes. As an investment and an integral part of how you live your life, your vehicle deserves to receive the proper care and attention it needs to perform its function well. Call us at %%di_phone_number%% and ask to speak with our factory-trained technicians to learn how you can best care for your car.