Winter is upon us, meaning the battle against snow and ice has begun. 
Everyone’s chief weapon of choice? Road salt.

Road salt is fantastic for clearing roads and maintaining safe, dry surfaces for us to drive on. However, road salt does not come without a cost, and your car will be paying the price.

Road salt is primarily composed of sodium chloride, an expert at de-icing roads and accelerating the spread of rust on your vehicle. Road salt breaks down the protective oxide layer in the metal on your car, leaving it vulnerable to damage.

Your vehicle’s undercarriage and paint job are particularly vulnerable. Road salt can pile up in your fenders, wheel wells, and fuel tanks, which over time can cause damage and weaken these vital parts. Any paint chips or cracks are like open wounds on your car, exposing the bare metal beneath for the road salt to dig in and increase the rust’s spread.

So, how can you prevent road salt from damaging your vehicle? Can you apply a protective layer over the paint? Does washing prevent road salt damage? As a full-service car wash near you, we have a few ideas.

Avoid driving behind snowplows.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, snowplows often drop extra road salt, and you do not want to be the first one to pick it up.

Wash your vehicle frequently.
Washing your car regularly cleans the road salt off and prevents build-up. Automatic car wash or hand wash, clean the salt, and slush off your vehicle all through the winter. Give special attention to your car’s undercarriage and any paint chips or rust spots. We offer multiple car wash options that will give your vehicle a good wash in every crevice, keeping it clean and maintained throughout the harsh winter.

Get a protective wax layer.
The best prevention for salt damage? A good wax job. To adapt a line from Mr. Miyagi, “Wax on, salt off.”

Waxing your car creates a protective layer that shields your paint job, preventing damaging substances such as road salt, dirt, and grime from coming into direct contact with the paint and any exposed metal surfaces.

Waxing on a regular basis also prevents paint chipping, which means your car will be less vulnerable to rust and corrosion when you encounter road salt. A good wax coating will cause water to bead up and roll right off your vehicle, reducing the amount of moisture your car is exposed to. Wax can also protect your car from the harmful sun rays that fade paint and reduce that beautiful shine you fell in love with when you first bought it. Finally, waxing your vehicle makes it easier to wash and maintain as grime and dirt will have a harder time clinging to the surface.

At Portage Car Wash, we offer an EXPRESS HAND WAX. It:
- Is applied with a low-speed orbital buffer
- Cleans, polishes, and protects your vehicle's finish
- Provides a long-lasting, durable finish
- No appointment necessary, just come in and we will take care of it for you so you can get back on the road and drive over that nasty road salt with confidence.

Winter is already here, so why don’t you drive over to the car wash near you that can give you the wax job you need to protect your car. We can wash your vehicle and wax it, keeping it clean, shiny, and looking like new for years to come.

Portage Car Wash has been servicing Portage, Hobart, Chesterton, and the surrounding areas for 40 years. We offer interior and exterior services, detailing, waxing, polishing, and more for an affordable price. Friendly faces plus professional cleaning services equals your car looking like new. Drive on over to see us today!

Need a wax job to protect your car from damaging road salt? Portage Car Wash is the car wash near you that can get you washed, waxed, and back on the road in no time.

 

Car detailing services may be a topic you have questions about. What are essential car detailing services? Are there any auto detailing services near me? Where can I get professional car detailing?

Car detailing is not just a luxury service, it’s an important part of regular car care and helps your vehicle run better and last longer.

At Portage Car Wash, we offer four car detailing services:

TECH SHIELD EXPRESS HAND WAX

A specialized car detailing service designed to protect and maintain your vehicle’s finish. Wax is applied to your car using a low-speed orbital buffer, which creates even coverage and a smooth finish.

This process cleans, polishes, and maintains your vehicle’s finish, protecting your car from damaging pollutants, UV rays, and road salt, and preventing the erosion of your vehicle’s paint.

The wax is long-lasting, maintaining a glossy look and layer of protection for your car. This detailing service is useful for:

• Proactive winter preparation
• Landscapers, farmers, and construction workers (vehicles in these occupations are frequently exposed to the weather, harmful elements, and chemicals)
• Preparing a vehicle to sell

 

INTERIOR SUPER CLEAN EXPRESS

A lot of life gets lived in your car, from fast food after school or work to road trips, your car has seen it all. This car cleaning service can give you a refresh in your car’s interior.

We will clean dust and dirt out of vents, crevices, and hard-to-reach areas. This service includes cleaning and conditioning all interior door panels, dash, and cup holders. We also give special attention to vacuuming all the tightest areas (the ones you can never reach but every crumb seems to hide out in). Your interior glass, mats, and air fresheners are also included.

This essential car detailing service is helpful for:

• Road trip preparation
• Maintaining your seat covers, storage spaces, and floorboards
• Rodent prevention (removing the buffet of smells and crumbs from your vehicle discourages rodents from getting into your car)
• Preparing a vehicle to sell

 

SHAMPOO CARPETS EXPRESS

Your vehicle’s carpets take a beating, which is why this professional car detailing service is an important part of car maintenance. From stains to smells, your carpets remember everything that has happened in your vehicle whether you want them to or not.

Our process involves cleaning out between and under all seats and vacuuming carpets with special attention to hard-to-reach areas. We will pre-treat all soiled areas and shampoo all carpets and mats with a hot water extraction machine.

This detailing service is helpful for:

• Seasonal cleaning (resetting your vehicle for different weather and seasons)
• Road trip preparation
• Preparing for special events/occasions

 

SHAMPOO SEATS EXPRESS

Finally, your car seats. Everyone wants to maintain the cleanliness and comfort of their seats as long as possible, but that can be challenging. That’s why we offer this car cleaning solution. We will pre-treat your seats for stains and shampoo your seats with a hot water extraction machine.

This shampoo service is helpful for:

• Stain removal from incidents and spills
• Preparing a car to sell
• Cleaning before transporting guests in your vehicle
• Preparing a vehicle for a life event such as a wedding, birth, or funeral

Car detailing is not just an extra, it’s an essential part of caring for your vehicle and maintaining your vehicle’s longevity. At Portage Car Wash, we clean until it looks brand new, helping you maintain your car for years to come.

Portage Car Wash has been servicing Portage, Hobart, Chesterton, and the surrounding areas for over 39 years. We offer interior and exterior services, detailing, waxing, polishing, and more for an affordable price. Friendly faces plus professional cleaning services equals your car looking like new. Drive on over to see us today!