Winter is an overlooked time for most people when it comes to detailing their car. With uncomfortable temperatures keeping everyone inside, no one looks forward to the weekend-washing of their prized possession. Keeping your car’s paint protected in the winter, however, is just as important as during the summer. It’s not the sun’s UV rays that cause as much concern anymore, but rather the salt and contaminated rain water from roads, also known as traffic film.
Many people choose to apply a sealant to their car during this time of the year because it will last much longer than a traditional carnauba wax. This is a good choice for paint protection because it reduces the number of times you have to wax your car in these cold temperatures. Some people even to choose to top their sealant with a carnauba wax for some layered protection and a little gloss.
The first step in preparing your car is to fully decontaminate the paintwork. This will ensure a proper bond with the sealant. Wash and remove any traffic film by using a non-Ph neutral car soap or dedicated traffic film remover. Then clay the paint to remove any large contaminants if necessary. The lower panels of the car will typically need the most cleaning. Do not worry about stripping any protection you may have previously applied to the car because you will be applying a fresh layer of protection.
If it has been a while or the first time you have tried removing any traffic film from your car, the film will be likely be embedded into the clear coat. In this case, the use of a cleaner wax would be ideal. This will chemically remove the film from the pores of the paint, leaving a truly clean canvas for protection.
Once the paint paint is clean and smooth, you can apply any sealant of your choice. Most sealants on the market will last anywhere from three months to six months depending upon environmental factors. If you choose to add a layer of carnauba on top, allow the sealant to cure, or bond to the paint, for at least 12 hours beforehand.