Spring is the perfect time to clean road salt that built up inside and outside your car over winter. These tips will help eliminate stains, prevent rust, and refresh your ride for the season ahead.

After a long winter, your car is likely covered in road salt. It clings to vehicle exteriors and seeps into carpets, quietly causing damage long after the season ends. That’s why it’s a good idea to deal with the buildup come springtime. A thorough clean will give your car a refresh and help protect it over the long term.

Why Salt Needs Your Attention

Road salt is used throughout the country to keep winter driving safer, but it does come at a cost. The same properties that make salt great for melting ice can also dull paint, corrode metal, and leave white stains on interior surfaces. Salt becomes especially damaging when mixed with moisture, eating away at your vehicle’s finish and causing rust.

Tackling Your Vehicle’s Exterior

To clean salt off your car’s exterior, start with a full rinse. Pay special attention to areas where salt tends to accumulate most, including wheel wells and the undercarriage. These spots are often overlooked but are among the most vulnerable to corrosion.

After rinsing, wash your vehicle with a car-safe cleaning solution to remove any leftover grime and prepare the surface for protection. For stubborn salt residue, a mixture of water and vinegar usually does the trick. Salt responds better to neutral or slightly acidic solutions than to standard alkaline soaps.

A final coat of wax or sealant will add a protective barrier that can prevent future buildup and make your next cleaning easier.

Finally, making sure your exterior is well-dried is just as important as giving it a good clean. This is particularly important in seams, around door edges, and near locks and trim where salt tends to collect. Leftover moisture combined with any leftover salt can accelerate corrosion, so take a moment to dry these areas thoroughly when you’re done washing.

Tackling Your Vehicle’s Interior

Inside a vehicle, salt can leave chalky white streaks on mats and carpets. Start with a vacuuming to remove any loose residue, then use a solution of water and white vinegar to help dissolve the remaining salt. Simply apply it to the area, let it sit briefly, then scrub gently to lift the residue. Follow it up with an upholstery cleaner if you want to remove the smell of vinegar.

Make sure you dry everything thoroughly as well, as moisture left behind can cause its own problems. If weather permits, leave the doors or windows open for a while to encourage ventilation.

Better Habits for Next Winter

If you want to enjoy an even easier cleanup next spring, then start by practicing a few simple habits next winter. For example, regularly washing your car in the winter, with a particular focus on the undercarriage, will go a long way to preventing heavier buildup. Inside, using durable floor mats and giving them a regular clean will reduce salt stains in your carpets.

Tackling salt buildup will help your car look better, feel better to drive, and stay in better condition for longer. This is one spring cleaning task that’s definitely worth your time!