Seasonal & Trip Prep
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If you intend to store a summer, luxury, performance, convertible or collector car over the Toronto winter, give it a thorough cleaning prior to its storage.
The idea behind seasonal storage is that a car stored away should be clean both inside and out. All those residues such as tree sap, brake dust, food crumbs, stains and moisture will be far easier to deal with prior to the extended storage period.
Seasonal car detailing in Toronto not only provides you with a clean car for storage, it means you have much less chance of being faced with contamination several months old when you bring the car back out in spring.
Of course, there's much more to preparing your car for winter storage than detailing. The contamination which you thought you would wash off next weekend will remain on the car until April. If you have decided to store a car due to your care for its condition, making it clean before storage is one of the aspects.
Begin With Thorough Exterior Washing
The first step is to get rid of everything that the car accumulated during the summer season. When the vehicle has been driven outside of the city, it could also have accumulated dirt from the roads, gravel dust, etc. Doing a thorough exterior detailing gives a chance to properly clean all the surfaces of the car before storage.
ALPHASHINE provides professional exterior detailing services in Toronto to vehicle owners that need their cars cleaned before being put into storage. Currently, our exterior service package includes full exterior washing and cleaning of the exterior surfaces of the vehicle.
Reasons Why a Dirty Car Should Not Be Stored
Some contaminations are just plain unappealing. Other contaminations could be cleaned as soon as possible. It is wrong to leave bird feces, bug debris, tree sap, and other forms of contamination to act like permanent decorations until spring arrives. The more a contaminant stays on a painted surface, the harder it would be to clean it.
The car's brakes also deserve some attention. A performance car in particular produces plenty of contaminants due to the braking system used and how the vehicle is operated. If a car has already collected lots of contaminants in October, there is no point in allowing it to stay for the entire winter period.
Placing a car cover over a dirty car exterior allows dirt and contaminants to come in contact with your paint.Applying a cover when the vehicle is wet also leads to a situation which you wanted to avoid. Vehicles with special finishes, wraps, paint protection films or unique materials in the body should verify that the cover being used is right.
Ensure That the Car Has Dried Up
It is essential that you clean your car before putting it away for storage.
Washing a car and putting it right away in an enclosed storage area with water still dripping from it and covering it and forgetting it is a wrong thing to do. Water could still be trapped in many parts of the car even when the exterior seems to have dried up. Ensure that there is enough time for draining and drying of the car.
This is the case for the interior as well. Any carpets or seat covers washed need to be dried up completely. It is not a clean but wet car that is needed. It is a clean and dry one.
Clean the Wheels Prior to Storing
It is easy to forget about cleaning the wheels because the rest of the car seems to be clean. However, when it comes to performance and enthusiasts’ cars, the wheels may be among the dirtiest car parts after the summer.
Brake dust can gather not only on the surface but also between spokes and hard-to-reach places. Cleaning the wheels will allow you to evaluate the state of the wheels and tires simultaneously. See if there are any abnormalities. Check the condition of the tires. Inspect the tire pressure. In case your car has a particular wheel finishing or carbon ceramic brakes, center lock wheels, etc., follow the recommendations of the manufacturer.
Should You Apply Protection Layer or Wax Before Seasonal Storage?
There is nothing wrong in applying paint protection before storing your car, yet what kind of protection layer to apply depends on the car in question and its previous level of protection. While some owners just want to have their cars' exteriors cleaned up and a proper protective coating put on top of it, others may have their vehicles coated with ceramic coating before.
There might also be those who are planning to get a paint correction and ceramic coating done as part of an effort to preserve their vehicles better. Ceramic coating is not a must in the case of seasonal storage of the vehicle. If your vehicle already has a lot of issues with the paint on its exterior, then applying any coating won't suddenly fix them. Paint correction and coating preparation should be separated from simple winter storage washing of your vehicle.
For those who need more long-term protection of their vehicles' exteriors, there are ceramic coating services at ALPHASHINE. Current ALPHASHINE ceramic coating package includes exterior detailing and coating preparation.
Clean Your Interior Before You Leave
The exterior is what you see in terms of collector and high-performance cars. Your interior should get the same amount of thought before long-term storage. This involves taking everything out of your car that does not belong there. There's no reason to leave dirt and garbage there for months to come.
Seasonal storage can be the best chance to clear everything out of the vehicle that isn't necessary anymore. You need the interior to start the storage process clean and dry.
While the car is being stored, it is not self-cleaning. Everything that was inside when it got parked is going to be there when you retrieve it. It may prove especially helpful to have your vehicle detailed professionally before putting it into storage after a long summer.
ALPHASHINE offers various car detailing options including interior detailing which involves vacuuming, carpet and seat cleaning, window cleaning, surface cleaning and leather/vinyl conditioning.
Moisture is one of the major things to avoid.
A clean interior is desirable. A dry interior is imperative.
In case the car was driven in rain just prior to storage, check for damp floor mats and carpet. If you cleaned the interior, ensure that all the wet areas have dried. If the convertible roof was just exposed to moisture, let the vehicle dry according to the correct procedures.
Do Not Ignore the Storage Environment
The storage environment makes a difference.
Indoor storage shelters your vehicle from outside weather conditions like snow and road salt, but the indoor storage facilities are very different from each other. Temperature, humidity, security, ventilation, cleanliness, pest control, accessibility, and specialized facilities for storing vehicles need to be taken into consideration.
Storing a valuable seasonal vehicle requires much more than just looking for a parking space.
When Should You Detail Your Car Prior to Storage?
Try to schedule the detailing in such a way as to ensure it is not too far ahead of the date of storing the car and get a whole extra month of being dirty.
At the same time, try to ensure you leave yourself enough time to make sure the car dries thoroughly and undergoes all other necessary preparation.
Many Torontonian motorists prepare their cars for storage in October and November. This will depend on the individual vehicle. Some convertible motorists store their vehicles earlier. Others continue to drive their performance cars until the first threat of snow and salt appears.
The most important thing is not to postpone it until the last evening prior to the winter storm and have to do everything in a rush. Schedule the process properly and do everything at once.
Prepare Your Vehicle for Proper Winter Storage
Seasonal storage should be an easy thing. Once you uncover the vehicle in springtime, you want to see the same pristine car that you parked in autumn.
For Toronto residents looking for professional cleaning of the vehicle before storage, ALPHASHINE provides interior and exterior detailing services, and ceramic coating for people interested in long-term exterior protection of their vehicle. At the moment, ALPHASHINE operates across downtown Toronto in King West, Financial District, and Yorkville.
Check out the ALPHASHINE Toronto locations and make your pre-storage detailing appointment by:
- Calling: 647-249-2960
- Email: info@alphashine.io
- Online: https://app.alphashine.io/ca/guestbooking
before your summer car vanishes from sight into the garage for another Toronto winter.
Store your car clean, dry and prepared, and wait for spring to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it necessary to wash my car before putting it into winter storage?
Yes, it is advisable that the car should be clean prior to being stored since this will mean that road film, bird droppings, brake dust, and other contaminants are not going to be left on the surfaces for a few months. - Is it a good idea to do an interior detailing prior to winter storage?
It is advisable, especially if there is any food debris, spills, dirt, stains or moisture in the vehicle. - Can I put my car in winter storage after I have washed it?
No, wait for the car to dry since water can still be in many places even when it looks dry from outside. - Do I need ceramic coating prior to putting my car in winter storage?
No, ceramic coating is not needed for winter storage, but advised if you want to preserve the resale value of your car. - Is October a suitable month to have seasonal car detailing done in Toronto?
Certainly. October allows numerous Toronto owners to perform necessary maintenance work on their summer cars before the temperature drops further and road salts appear.
