Quick Wash
Shampoo, high-pressure rinse and dry.
$12.99$10.99 with fuel
- Not included: Under-car spray
- Not included: Rust inhibitor
- Shampoo wash
- Not included: Tri Foam conditioner
- High-pressure rinse
- Not included: Shine Guard Plus protectant
- Dry
Getting spring pollen off your car in Ontario
In May and June, tree pollen settles on paint and glass as a fine yellow or green dust, sometimes overnight. It looks harmless, but it is gritty and slightly sticky once dew or a light rain wets it.
Do not wipe it off dry
Pollen grains act like fine sand under a cloth, a sleeve or a duster. Dragging them across dry paint leaves light swirl marks you will see in the sun later. Use water to lift it instead.
Rinse after rain, not before
A spring shower turns pollen into a paste that dries into streaks along the windows and trunk lid. Wash a day after the rain, once the next layer has started to land, and you will remove both at once.
Clear the cowl and wiper area
Lift the hood and look at the plastic panel at the base of the windshield. Pollen and seed husks collect there and get drawn into the cabin air intake. Brush them out by hand and consider replacing the cabin air filter if the fan smells musty.
Check the glass inside
Pollen gets into the cabin through open windows and vents and leaves a haze on the inside of the windshield. The wash only cleans the outside, so wipe the inside glass with a clean microfibre cloth afterwards.
Park away from the worst trees
If you have a choice, avoid parking under maples, oaks and pines while they are shedding. A spot a few metres away from the canopy can cut the daily layer a lot.
Which wash to pick
Pollen sits on top of the paint and comes off with soap and water, so Quick Wash is usually enough. You do not need the underside cleaned for a pollen problem. If spring rain has also left mud and leftover winter grime underneath, use Full Wash once to clear that too.
Questions
How often should I wash off pollen?
During the heaviest few weeks, once a week is reasonable. Outside those weeks, normal washing every couple of weeks is fine.
Does the wash clean the windows too?
The outside glass is washed and rinsed with the rest of the car. The inside of the windows is not cleaned.
Can pollen damage paint?
Pollen left on for a long time, especially when it gets wet and dries repeatedly in the sun, can leave faint marks on some finishes. Rinsing it regularly avoids that.