In October, wet leaves stick to the hood and gather in every gap on the car. Left there for days, they hold moisture against the paint, can leave tannin stains on light colours, and clog the drains that keep water out of the cabin.
Before washing, lift the leaves off the hood, roof and trunk lid, then open the doors and the hood and clear the jambs and the cowl at the base of the windshield. High-pressure water can push wet leaves deeper into those gaps instead of washing them out.
Most cars have drain holes at each end of the cowl, and cars with a sunroof have small drain tubes at its corners. If water pools there or you see a wet carpet after rain, a drain is probably blocked. Clear the debris you can reach and ask a mechanic about the rest.
Fresh sap can soften in a wash, but hardened drops usually stay. Use a sap remover or isopropyl alcohol on a soft cloth, working on one drop at a time, then rinse the area. Test on a small spot first if you are unsure about your finish.
Fall rain and gravel concession roads throw mud and leaf debris into the frame rails and wheel wells. Clearing it before the first salting means salt has less wet grime to cling to over the winter.
Late fall is a good time to check the blades. If they streak after a wash, replace them before the first snow rather than in the middle of a storm.
Fall is about getting the car clean before winter, and that includes the mud and debris underneath, which is what the under-car spray in Full Wash covers. For a quick rinse of leaf marks on the body, Quick Wash is enough once you have cleared the leaves by hand.
Quick plus an under-car spray. The one for salted roads.
$2 more than Quick Wash
Yes. One good wash in late October or November, including the underside, means salt season starts on a clean car.
Usually not completely. Hardened sap needs a sap remover applied by hand.
They can, especially wet leaves left on a light-coloured car for several days. Clearing them off promptly is the easiest fix.
