Spring Weather Checklist

Snowvid 2021 is long gone now that springtime is officially here. Amid interior home repairs and landscape maintenance to bring your home back from its sad and baren winter shape, we’d like to encourage our customers not to neglect another important asset: your vehicle!

Each year, we all begin to see a haze of yellow as our Texas trees burst into bloom and pollen is carried on the spring winds to land on every possible surface, including your car. Most who suffer from seasonal allergies see that pollen and run for cover, and we don’t blame them. But, while you definitely want to hide in the house, don’t neglect your car. Spring weather can wreak havoc on your vehicle – here’s what to do about it.

Wash and wash often . We’re a car wash. We believe in our product. So, naturally, we encourage you to wash your car on a regular basis to keep it looking great. Pollen in particular can negatively impact your paint job. Pollen, dirt and dust all have an oxidizing impact on your car’s paint job. Your paint job will forgive you for getting busy for a few weeks and forgetting to swing through the tunnel, but routinely neglecting to clean your car will eventually catch up with you as all those contaminants just sit there gradually breaking down the clear coat and scratching the paint when you try to remove them. Grab a professional car wash to remove contaminants promptly and save your car from long-term damage.

Cover your car to prevent hail damage . Spring storms are here, and hail damage can be one of the costliest repairs you may have to make to your car. Once a car has hail damage, it’s hard to make it right. Even a fantastic paint and dent repair company may not put things back together absolutely perfectly once the dents have been repaired. That means if your car incurs damage in a hailstorm, you’ll have to choose between getting dents repaired and dealing with annoying rattles and noises that weren’t there before. Prevent that from happening by parking in a covered location. It’s worth it to pay for covered parking or to clear space in the garage to save yourself the headache later. If covered parking is not available to you, consider purchasing a hail protection car cover. Your car will look like it belongs to the Michelin man, but such systems are promised to withstand softball sized hail.

Check the wiper blades. Worn out windshield wiper blades can scratch your glass and also leave you in an unsafe situation if you’re caught off-guard by a spring storm. Check your wiper blades and inspect them for wear and tear. Make sure the rubber is flexible and not brittle. We advise buying the nicest wiper blades you can afford from a reputable brand such as Bosch or Aero.

Tires need love too. Your tires get you where you’re going safely. Now that winter is behind us – and especially since we had severe winter weather – it’s time to check your tires. Most people are familiar with the tire test, but if you’ve never checked your tread, here’s how to do it: Hold the penny by the bottom, at Abe Lincoln’s shoulders. Point Mr. Lincoln’s head toward the center of the wheel and insert the penny into the tire tread. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace the tires. Otherwise, you can some tread left. Make sure to check the tread, pressure and expiration date on the spare tire as well and to inspect the tire at several places in its circumference to ensure it is wearing evenly. Our tire shine upgrade is a great way to add a little shine to your wheels. Unlike other car washes that spray the shine agent all over the underside of the vehicle, we apply our tire shine with brushes, so it stays on the tires where it belongs.

Check your oil and fluid levels. Learn the basics of how to check your oil and how to refill basic fluids like windshield wiper fluid. Refer to your car’s maintenance manual for information on optimal fluid levels. A dirty windshield makes it harder to see, and of course low oil can destroy your engine. Use washer fluid formulated for warmer weather, which can help take care of bugs and sap that leave sticky residue on your windshield.

As always, a regular car wash will help you maintain your vehicle value for the long haul. Not only that, but whatever you drive, from an older car to a luxury brand, it ALWAYS feels better to drive if it’s clean.