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With The Weather Network's spring forecast premiering in just over a week and double-digit temperatures expected this weekend for some parts of the country, what better time than now to clean that salty car of yours.

Give your car a clean start to spring with these 6 tips

Visit the Complete Guide to Spring 2017 for the Spring Forecast, tips to survive it and much more.


Leeanna McLean
Digital Reporter

Saturday, February 10, 2018, 2:00 PM - With the "official" start of spring on Tuesday, March 20, what better time than now to clean that salty car of yours?

There's no doubt, winter is hard on your vehicle. Salt and slush are destructive elements that can damage your vehicle's paint, wheels and suspension components.

"Not only can the driving conditions in a Canadian winter be horrible, they are also just brutal on your car," says Megan Currie, senior marketing manager for Armor All. "The roads are a slushy mess, and all the salt used to melt the ice can be corrosive on the body of your car. What's worse, you track all that sloppy mess into the car with you, leaving an ugly, crusty residue behind."

Here are five tips to wash off months of winter neglect, courtesy of Currie.

1. Remove salt

There is nothing more damaging to your car inside and out than winter road salt. An industrial-strength carpet and upholstery cleaner with foaming action is perfect for cleaning the salt from the carpet and car mats in your car. It is also good for lifting ground-in stains from the other three seasons as well, including grease, oil and mud.

2. A clean dash

Get rid of dust with a thorough cleaning of your dash, console and doors. Take care of your dashboard and interior trim with a multi-use auto cleaner or wipes, and keep it clean and safe from UV damage with an interior protectant.

3. Clear windows

You can’t see out of dirty windows, and when your windows start to fog up even a little bit - every streak becomes obvious. Restore the clarity to your windows with a specialized automotive glass cleaner.

4. Preserve your seats

Leather seats are a nice option in a car, and you will want to preserve them as much as possible. Protect the leather in your vehicle from wayward splashes and salt with a restorer and protectant that will rejuvenate and preserve your leather interior.

5. Run it through a wash

When spring rolls around, you will want to ensure your car is free of rust and corrosion so that you can get back to giving it that custom shine car enthusiasts love. Give your car a regular wash, especially the undercarriage, to clean away any salt residue. For an added level of protection against winter’s worst, brave the cold for just a few moments and apply a spray-on wax, which can be applied to a wet or dry vehicle. Simply spray on the carnauba wax and enjoy a high-gloss shine that also protects the clear coat on the paint.

6. Tires and rims need cleaning too

Whether it's a coin op, or your local car wash, you can easily clean your tires and rims to help prevent salt and road grime from pitting the rims and diminishing the look and moisture in your tires. Before you turn on the water gun, or drive through the car wash, use a touch free tire and rim cleaner like Armor All Quicksilver Tire and Rim Cleaner and have the water do the dirty work for you.

WATCH BELOW: How to really spring clean using a little less water

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