Whether you have been driving for a short period of time or for decades of your life, the fact remains that the basics of winter road safety are not strictly adhered to by everyone. The reasons vary from an over-inflated sense of security or confidence to downright ignorance or a lack of understanding how a vehicle reacts in challenging road and weather conditions. Regardless, it is up to you to maintain the safety of your vehicle and all the passengers riding in it. So whether you’re driving through Mississauga, Brampton, Toronto, Vaughan, Georgetown, Caledon or any other part of the GTA, do yourself and everyone else a favour this winter and keep this checklist in mind throughout the season!
Exterior Care
Probably the easiest and least stressful way to protect your vehicle from the ravages of road salt erosion is by getting luxury car washes. By luxury, we mean soft foam technology that is a gentle but effective treatment to rid the exterior of your vehicle from salt, sand and pollution build-up that is all too common this time of year. That gets followed by a fresh water rinse and hand dry to make sure there are no spots, streaks or remaining salt residue. And don’t forget a wax treatment to provide a barrier of protection between the paint and the harsh wind and road debris.
Lighting is something we don’t think about that much but since winter is the darkest time of the year for us, it’s critical to make sure all exterior light bulbs are burning their brightest and the car wash will make sure all the protective casing around them will be clean and clear as well.
Interior Care
Making sure the inside of your vehicle is clean and salt-free is just as important. Salt and snow on the bottom of your shoes and boots melts away and can leak under the mats and soak into the carpeting and start to eat away at parts of your car. Interior detailing provides a thorough cleaning, vacuuming and wiping down of all the surfaces inside your vehicle to keep it hygienic and free from salt erosion.
Rustproofing
Only your mechanic knows what goes on underneath your vehicle but one way to protect all the vulnerable metal components on the undercarriage is a rustproofing treatment. Whether you choose a Diamond Kote or Rust Check solution, the gel based, dripless formulas will give the underside of your vehicle much needed protection from weather-related damage that can happen with prolonged salt exposure over the winter months. Getting it done means one less thing to worry about!
Windshield Inspection and Repair
Windshield chips and cracks should never be ignored, no matter how minor they may appear! With all the road debris flying at your windscreen in the winter and the heavy duty scraping it endures to remove ice from it, it’s easy for little nicks and chips in the glass to happen. But it doesn’t take much at all for those seemingly innocent chips to turn into a full on crack or full break of the windshield. Because your windscreen is a major component of maintaining a vehicle’s structural integrity, it’s under an enormous amount of pressure at all times. Factor in the weight of a heavy snowfall or even the intensity of arctic air beating down on it relentlessly during a storm and it’s not hard to imagine how easily a minor blemish in the glass could turn into a full blown catastrophe. It’s far quicker and cheaper to have chips fixed than it is to have to schedule a full-on windshield replacement. That’s stress you just don’t need and it is easy to avoid.
Emergency Safety Kit
It’s always better to be safe than sorry and being a prepared motorist is one of the best ways to always have an enjoyable traveling experience. Being ready and able to anticipate is key to safe driving but the unforeseen can sometimes happen and you may find yourself with a broken down vehicle. Even if you live in the city, it’s critical to have an emergency safety kit within easy access inside your vehicle at all times. It’s easy to put together and should include a blanket, extra gloves, a first aid kit, some snacks and water. A flashlight, knife and jumper cables along with a cellphone charger, de-icer spray and a map are also useful to have on hand at all times.

Top 7 Reasons Car Detailing Makes Sense Before Winter
If you live in Canada, winter car care is crucial to the protection of your vehicle. Cold climates and extreme weather conditions can wreak havoc on your automobile if the necessary precautions are not taken. Car detailing is an excellent, and very effective way to...

Advantages of a Self-Serve Car Wash
Just like anything you want to keep in good condition, your vehicle is something that requires regular maintenance. Think of a comparison to your own physical health. If you don’t consistently take care of yourself by eating well, and engage in regular exercise and...

Rust Proofing Your Vehicle Before the Winter Season
Rust and corrosion is a major concern for a lot of vehicle owners. Not only is rust an eyesore, it is also very damaging for your vehicle. Rust is caused by a mixture of iron, water, and oxygen. When these elements come together, the result is a chemical reaction that...

Benefits of Professional Window Tinting
Everyone loves to get out and enjoy the weather on a beautiful sunny day, right? You get all your stuff together to head to the beach …… and then you have to get into your piping hot car! Rolling the windows down and cranking the AC provides little to no relief. You...

Benefits of a Regular Car Wash
Everyone has differing opinions on the level of maintenance that is necessary to keep your vehicle running at peak performance. It all depends on how much you value your vehicle, and how much time and money you are willing to put into it. Some people may have their...

Keep Your Car Clean This Fall
Care and maintenance for your vehicle may sometimes feel like a never-ending task. As intimidating as it may seem, it is a worthwhile endeavor to have regular upkeep performed on your automobile. A lot of people spend hours in their cars on a daily basis. You count on...

Benefits of an Automatic Car Wash
The automatic car wash first appeared on the scene way back in the 1930s. It was a very similar set up to the automatic car washes of today, implementing a conveyor belt style approach. Automatic car washes were comprised of long buildings that had the appearance of a...

Full Serve Vs. Self Serve Car Wash
Every vehicle needs to be washed at some point. It’s just a part of regular vehicle maintenance. But, how often your vehicle gets washed and how you go about it, is completely up to personal preference. There are two main options for washing your automobile. You can...

Benefits of Having Your Car Waxed
Having your car waxed may seem like an unnecessary luxury to some, but waxing your car regularly can provide big benefits to your vehicle. Car owners tend to focus mainly on the engine when worrying about routine vehicle maintenance. While it is certainly important to...

Benefits of Car Detailing and Cleaning
Having your vehicle detailed and thoroughly cleaned by a professional comes with many positive benefits. Drivers that want to keep their vehicles in pristine condition, while preserving the value may be interested in car detailing. So, what is the difference between...