Spring is here! What should we prepare for our cars?

After winter, so dreaded by car "Maniacs" (salt, mud, frost, snow...), spring is finally showing its face and we will soon be able to bring out our prized vehicles to pamper them.

During the winter period, we were able to focus on interiors, treating seals and exterior plastics. For spring, on the other hand, we will shift our priority to the exterior and also a work area that will have suffered greatly: the interior.

Let's review together the essential products to consider for this new season arriving.

Bodywork cleaning:

The arrival of spring often signals the arrival of sunny days, sunshine, milder temperatures, but also the arrival of our little friends the midges that will gently come and land on our bumpers/mirrors/windshields etc.
We all know this and never really know how to react properly.

Midges must be removed as quickly as possible, whether the vehicle is treated or not! Keep in mind that the acidity of insect remains is very harmful to paint coatings and can in some cases cause irreversible damage.

Insect Remover:



The anti-midge, or anti-insect product otherwise known in English as an "insect remover", is the solution for effectively removing these contaminants.
However, this type of product must be used with caution on certain vehicles equipped with a protective coating to avoid removing it. For example, an "insect remover" cannot be applied to a vehicle treated with a natural carnauba wax as the latter will not withstand the alkaline nature of the product's cleaning solution. In this case, it will be appropriate to simply use a "quick detailer", either loaded with carnauba or purely synthetic-based, to remove the midge film without risk of stripping the protection.

There are ready-to-use versions recommended for those who want a simple and quick product to use, or dilutable versions that are more economical.

The major references currently on the market are FICTECH Grip - 140, or Insect Cleaner by ALCHIMY7, both in ready-to-use form.



The two rules to absolutely observe when using an "insect remover" are to spray the product on a cold surface, and to never let the product dry on the surface! On this last point, it is strongly recommended to rinse the product off with plenty of water rather than simply wiping it with a microfiber cloth.

One final tip after using the insect remover: boost the existing protection with a suitable Quick Wax (e.g.: Supercharged - 614 for synthetic and ceramic coatings, or Sprint - 743 for natural coatings)


Bodywork Treatment:

After a harsh winter season, it will be necessary to completely redo the exterior treatment to start on a solid foundation. This means a thorough pre-wash/wash, chemical and mechanical decontamination, followed by full bodywork protection.

Indeed, road salt, mud, sandy rain, and frost will have put your bodywork through its paces.

A good Hard shampoo will therefore be required to effectively rid the bodywork of all present contamination. We warmly recommend using M7 shampoo by ALCHIMY7, which can also be used as a pre-wash solution.



The next step will consist of the mandatory chemical and mechanical decontamination before protecting your vehicle. This is the only step that will allow you to bare your clear coat and remove all contaminants from its pores. Essential before waxing your car.

We will naturally start with a chemical treatment using iron removers and tar removers as well. These products work on contact and must be left to dwell on the surfaces. We will use absolute references such as Iron X by CARPRO and its tar counterpart Tar X.




The second step will be the mechanical part of the decontamination. To do this, you will use a clay bar, a clay mitt, or a decontamination towel with a clay lubricant.
The decontamination kit will be perfect as it includes all the necessary accessories, including wiping microfiber cloths. The decontamination mitt will save quite a bit of time in the process compared to a traditional clay bar, but in return will not necessarily allow easy access to tight areas.



Following a mechanical decontamination with the clay or any other accessory such as the mitt or towel, you may notice some marks left in the wake of the accessory. This phenomenon is called "clay marring". These marks are minor and can be quickly removed with a light polish by hand or by machine.
Here is an illustration of these marks created by a clay bar. This can occur due to several factors: lack of lubrication, hot surface, fragile or repainted and poor-quality clear coat, clay bar too hard, excessive pressure on the clay...



To remove these few marks, you can use a finishing polish by hand with a manual pad or directly by machine with an orbital polisher. If you want a quick solution, you can even use a 3-in-1 polish such as One by ZVIZZER. It will correct, nourish, and protect the clear coat.
Best used with a finishing pad or medium pad at most.



Bodywork Protection:

Now that the surface is perfectly prepared and ideally polished, it will be time to apply a protection. The spring season is milder but can remain rainy. We therefore recommend using a synthetic wax for greater protection durability. This can be used either in liquid form or as a spray for even greater speed and ease.

Two references we recommend from two leading German brands: Spray Sealant SO.02 by KOCH CHEMIE or Wax Synthetic by ZVIZZER.


Both synthetic bases (with added carnauba in Wax Synthetic by ZVIZZER for extra gloss) will provide excellent protection for spring. Roads that may still be greasy, the onset of midges, or the sun beginning to peek through will no longer worry you thanks to the chemical resistance. When spring is well underway and summer arrives, you can then turn to natural protections to focus on the gloss.



Interior Cleaning/Treatment:

Winter was also tough on your interiors: melted snow, salt, mud, sand, dirt. Spring will give you the opportunity to do a complete reset of your interiors.

After a thorough vacuuming of your interior, the first product to use will be a universal interior cleaner (APC). Opt for ready-to-use if you want to save time and avoid getting lost in product dilutions.
Classic All Purpose Cleaner by VALET PRO will be perfectly suited to clean almost all surfaces in your interior. Only leather should be treated separately with a dedicated product.

We then strongly recommend treating the hard and foam plastics of your interior at the same time. VALET PRO Protectant will be perfect with its like-new and anti-static finish.

You can find both products together in a complete kit.




For all leather areas, the treatment applied in winter will certainly have run its course given the temperatures and constraints. It will therefore need to be renewed. We recommend using the new leather cleaning and care kit (Smooth Leather Care Set) offered by KOCH CHEMIE, which recently acquired COLOURLOCK. You will find the essentials with the same effectiveness and the same results as always.
Generally speaking, a leather treatment should ideally be renewed every 3-4 months (i.e., with each change of season), or more frequently if the vehicle is used more intensively.



Conclusion:

The arrival of spring represents a great milestone in terms of automotive aesthetic maintenance. The long-awaited end of winter should not give way to negligence or a drop in vigilance on the grounds that weather conditions will be less harsh. It is precisely at this time that you should take the opportunity to erase all the harshness of winter with a thorough maintenance session.

The exterior is important but the interior must not be neglected either. Both areas will have suffered during winter.

In this article, we have presented simple, effective, and ready-to-use products suitable for everyone. In some cases, you may find these references in kit form, in larger quantities, or in a pure concentrate to dilute. Depending on your needs (multiple vehicles to treat, large surfaces, etc.) it will be appropriate to scale up the packaging of the products presented.


Happy detailing everyone!