Why road salt is so damaging
MassDOT and local towns spread salt and liquid brine on roads throughout the winter. Salt accelerates corrosion on metal, dulls clear coat, and leaves white crust on carpets and floor mats. Brine is especially sneaky because it clings to the undercarriage long after roads look dry.
Prep before the first snow
A late-fall detail with a fresh sealant or ceramic coating gives your paint a slick barrier that salt can't easily grip. Swap in rubber all-weather mats and treat fabric seats and carpets with a fabric protectant.
During the winter
Rinse your car — especially wheel wells and lower panels — whenever temperatures rise above freezing for a day. Even a touchless rinse helps. Vacuum salt out of carpets regularly before it dissolves and soaks in.
Spring salt removal
In March or April, book a full detail with an undercarriage rinse, iron decontamination and hot water extraction of carpets to dissolve salt stains. This is the single most valuable detail of the year for Boston drivers.
Don't forget the glass and wipers
Salt film on windshields causes dangerous glare. Clean glass inside and out, apply a hydrophobic glass treatment, and replace wiper blades that streak.
