Spring is in the Air! 5 Tips to Get Your Car Ready for the Season

Everyone knows that there are a few things you should do to prepare your car for winter. Change your tires, have your breaks checked – you know the drill. But what to do when the snowy season’s over? Auto repair shops are pushing their spring service specials, but what can a winter-weary driver do at home now that spring has sprung?

1. Switch your winter tires for summer ones. Now that snow and sleet isn’t covering the roads, it’s a good idea to swap out those winter wheels for summer tires. They’ll give you the best ride for the warm weather, and perform better on dry pavement than their winter time counterparts. It’s also a good idea to give the wheel hubs a scrub, in order to get rid of any rust that’s build up over the winter. If you don’t have summer tires, all-seasons work as well.

2. Change those wiper blades. After a long winter of freezing temperatures and snowfall, your windshield wipers are bound to have gone through some wear and tear. Replace your old wipers with fresh, new ones to make sure you’ll have the best visibility for the rainy season coming up. Make sure to measure the length of your wipers in inches before you look for your replacements at the store, so that you can find the right size wipers.

3. Spring clean your car. Spring cleaning around the house is a staple of this time of year, so why not extend the washing to your car? Give your car a thorough cleaning and wash away that built-up winter dirt and salt – if you let it sit now that the cold weather’s gone, it may end up damaging your car’s exterior. So fill up that bucket and roll up your sleeves, because the best way to get rid of salt and grime is by hand-washing. A carwash can’t get into those hard-to-reach areas, but you can. Make sure to wash your car’s undercarriage as well, because this gets the most salt buildup when driving down winter roads. User your garden hose to spray into those crevices under your vehicle to get rid of any leftover grime from winter driving.

Note: Make sure you give your car a scrub-down while it’s not too sunny outside – cleaning your car in direct sunlight leaves the paint more prone to damage.

4. Don't forget the interior. When you’re done with the exterior, move on to the interior of your car. A small handheld vacuum will help get rid of dirt or crumbs, and a simple solution of water and vinegar will help get rid of stains in the floor carpet. Make sure not to get the floor of your car too wet, though, because there may be wires or electrical elements under there – use a towel to remove extra moisture.

5. Check under the hood. Now that you’ve given your car a proper cleaning inside and out, it’s wise to check under the hood to see if any fluids need to be topped up. Some fluids get used up quickly in winter weather, so make sure that you top off your oil, and any other fluids that might be depleted, like windshield wiper, brake, and transmission fluid. If you’re wary of tackling this on your own, you can go to a service station and leave this one to he professionals.