Winter-prepping your car – the complete guide before salt and slush

Why winter-prep your car?

From the first salting until the snow melts, the car is bombarded with road salt, sand and wet slush. Salt is corrosive and clings everywhere – the paint, the wheel arches, the underbody and the wheels. Without protection the paint's gloss is eaten away, and bare metal starts to rust.

Winter prep isn't about washing the car once, but about laying a protective baseline before the season: clean, protected paint and an interior that can take salt and moisture.

The right order

The order matters most. Protection over dirty or oxidised paint just locks the problems in.

1. Thorough wash and degrease – remove summer's road film, tar and bug splatter
2. Clay bar if needed – pulls out industrial fallout the paint won't release on its own
3. Polishing if the paint is dull or full of scratches – gives a clean surface to protect
4. Durable protection – sealant or ceramic coating that holds up through winter
5. Interior prep – rubber mats and protection of fabric and leather

Step 1: Thorough wash and degrease

Always start with a proper wash. A foam pre-wash loosens the worst before the contact wash, so you don't grind grit into the paint. Degreasing removes road film and tar residue that regular shampoo leaves behind. This is the foundation – everything else builds on a completely clean surface.

Step 2: Paint protection that survives winter

Protection is the heart of winter prep. A good layer makes the paint slick, so salt, slush and grime let go more easily – and every winter wash gets shorter and gentler.

Want to understand the difference in depth? We have a dedicated guide to ceramic coating.

Step 3: Interior protection

Most winter wear happens where you don't think to look: the floor. Salt, sand and meltwater get dragged in on your shoes and stain carpets and seat covers.

• Switch to rubber mats with raised edges – they catch meltwater and salt, and rinse clean in seconds
• Protect fabric and leather with a sealant so moisture and salt can't soak in
• Empty and dry often – standing moisture causes bad odours and foggy windows

Step 4: The details people forget

• Door seals – treat the rubber with silicone or petroleum jelly so they don't freeze shut
• Washer fluid – switch to a freeze-proof fluid rated to at least −20 °C
• Wiper blades – cracked blades smear instead of wiping; replace them before winter
• Locks and hinges – a little lubrication stops them freezing

When should you winter-prep?

Do the job before the first salting – in Østfold that usually means October, while it's still dry and mild enough for the protection to cure properly. Wait until the salt is on the road and the car has to be stripped right back down again before you can even begin.

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