How to Protect the Paint on Your Nissan This Winter

Between harsh temperatures, icy roads, and salt used to melt that ice and snow, the wintertime is hard on cars. Without proper care, you may notice that your car is looking less than pristine after only a few days of winter. Protect your investment by following these paint care tips.

Wash it Regularly

If you’re someone who skips the car wash throughout the year, it’s time to make a New Year’s resolution to change your habits. Washing your car is the easiest way to protect your paint job, and it’s inexpensive and easy to do. If it’s too cold to do it yourself, drive through a self-serve car wash lane at least once a week to clean the salt from the exterior. And if once a week is just too big of a commitment for you, you should at least wash it after every big snowstorm.

Spring for the higher level wash every so often to clean the salt and grime from the undercarriage of your car, since this is a spot where rust often forms undetected.

Apply a Coating of Wax

Before you head out on a freezing day, you probably put on some protective clothing, like gloves, a coat, and maybe a hat or scarf. A coating of wax is similar to the clothing you wear since it protects your vehicle from salt and dirt from the road, as well as rain, snow, and sleet. Car wax comes in all forms so it’s easier than ever to apply.

Wax acts as a protective barrier between the paint on your car’s exterior and the harsh winter weather, so it can prevent common problems like cracking, fading, and rust. There are cans of spray-on wax that you can quickly apply, or you can choose the classic method of application with a soft cloth. If you go this route, make sure to apply it in a circular motion to cover every inch of the car’s surface.

Use Caution When Brushing

When your car is buried under a few inches of snow, you’ll probably haul out a few tools to clean it off before you head out for the day. But a hard plastic ice scraper can cause damage to your paint, so exercise caution before you start scraping painted areas of the vehicle’s body. It’s best to use a soft brush to clear snow off the car, and keep the ice scraper firmly on the windows instead of trying to use it for snow that sits atop the roof, door, hood, or trunk. Hard plastic tends to scratch paint, so you could wind up accidentally making a costly mistake.

Fix the Scratches

If you have any scratches, dings, or dents on your car, take it in to get them fixed before winter hits. These are prime targets for rust, and salt and slush from the roads during the colder months tend to increase your risk. Smaller dings won’t cost too much to repair, but even the slightly higher cost of fixing big dents is well worth it. Removing rusted areas is expensive and difficult, but rust left untreated can lead to holes in your vehicle that drastically lower its resale value.

By taking a few preventive steps, you can protect the exterior paint on your car throughout the winter and maintain its value.

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