Summer car wash tips to remove saltpetre and sand from the beach

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We place emphasis today on the damage that can be caused by saltpetre from sea air and sand from the beach, rusting and scratching different parts of our vehicles. 

We place emphasis today on the damage that can be caused by saltpetre from sea air and sand from the beach, rusting and scratching different parts of our vehicles. Regular cleaning after days on the beach is needed to avoid damage to glass, bodywork and upholstery.

If you are a regular beach-goer, we recommend washing your car at least once a week. Remember that keeping your car clean is also vital to ensure good visibility and highway safety, particularly during this period of the year when there are more vehicles on the road.

Cleaning the inside


We recommend first cleaning the inside of the vehicle, firstly shaking out and then vacuum cleaning floor mats, and also using mat cleaners to avoid any bacteria building up in the car. The entire interior of the vehicle should then be vacuum cleaned, and blowers to remove any grains of sand from hidden areas inside the car.

If the upholstery has any salt deposits on it, we recommend using dry foam upholstery cleaner that penetrates the threads of the fabric causing the dirt to rise to the surface. It also contains an anti-static treatment to protect the surface for longer-lasting cleanliness.

In the case of textile upholstery, the foam should be applied directly onto the upholstery and then scrubbed using a clean brush to produce abundant foam. It should then be rinsed off using a damp cloth or a sponge. For natural or synthetic leather upholstery, spray the product on the surface to clean and scrub using a dry cloth to bring the surface to the required shine.

Washing the outside


In order to remove any salt residues and sand from the outside of your car, we recommend using the high-pressure pre-wash program so as not to scratch the bodywork and to remove dirt and any salt residues and sand. Complete wash programs are recommended in tunnels, using osmotized water and a final rinse cycle, since this type of water is free of any particles and contributes to a perfect, stain-free finish.

Paying special attention to the underchassis, wheel-arches, tyres and wheel-rims is fundamental for optimum cleaning, as this is where saltpetre and sand build up, which also contain salt residues and can produce rust on metallic parts of your car.  Using brushes in the jet wash area, or wheel-wash brushes in rollovers help achieve an impeccable finish on wheel-rims.

Wash programs with insect remover are recommended at this time of year, as is waxing to protect your vehicle and keep it clean for longer, in addition to protecting it from UV radiation.

Parking with the rear of the car facing the sea, using canvas covers, seat covers and floor mats are other of our recommendations to reduce the impact of sand and salt on the vehicle.

Finally, we also stress the importance of checking tyre pressures at this time of year, using certified pressure gauges and observing the manufacturer's recommendations and vehicle load.

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