Winter salt corrosion is a major problem for car owners, and it can also be a challenge for car wash operators. Road salt is used to melt ice and snow, but it can also cause serious damage to vehicles, including rusting, paint peeling, and electrical problems.
Car wash owners can play an important role in helping their customers to prevent and fight winter salt corrosion. By offering the right services and educating their customers on the importance of winter car care, car washes can help to keep vehicles looking and running their best, even during the toughest winter months.
How Does Winter Salt Corrosion Work?
Winter salt is a mixture of sodium chloride and other minerals. When it dissolves in water, it forms a brine solution. This brine solution can seep into the cracks and crevices of a car’s paint and undercarriage, where it can start to corrode the metal.
Corrosion happens when metal breaks-down, changing a once strong structure (or vehicle), into rust. If the rust breakdown is left unchecked, the rust can damage the integrity of the entire vehicle, shortening the lifespan of your customer’s cars.
How Winter Salt Corrosion Affects Cars
Winter salt corrosion can affect cars in a number of ways. Some of the most common problems include:
Rust: Salt attracts moisture, which can lead to rusting on metal components. Rust is a weak and porous material, and it can eventually lead to holes in the body and other parts of the car.
Paint peeling: Salt can also cause paint to peel, which can make the car look unsightly and reduce its value.
Electrical problems: Salt can also corrode electrical components, which can lead to a variety of problems, such as headlights that don’t work, turn signals that don’t flash, and even engine failure.
How Car Washes Can Help to Prevent and Fight Winter Salt Corrosion
Offering undercarriage washing: Undercarriage washing is essential for removing salt and other debris from the underside of the car. This can help to prevent corrosion and prolong the life of the vehicle.
Offering wax and sealant services: Wax and sealants create a barrier between the paint and the elements, which can help to protect the car from salt and other corrosive materials.
Educating customers on winter car care: Car wash operators can educate their customers on the importance of winter car care, including the importance of regular washing and waxing.
Use The Real Clean Difference:
Real Clean™ Salt Mitigation is the ultimate defense in mitigating the effects of salt on your vehicle. Its unique formula can function as both a cleaning agent for salt and grime but also a protective coating that acts as a barrier between exposed metal and the harsh elements corroding your equipment. Salt Mitigation is perfect for car wash and fleets to protect your investment. Unlike other products, Salt Mitigation leaves a transparent coating that is almost unnoticeable to the eye while providing superior protection from salt and other corrosive chemicals used in the winter to de-ice roads and the summer to control dust on dirt roads and construction sites.
Specific Services That Car Washes Can Offer to Fight Winter Salt Corrosion
Undercarriage wash: This service removes salt, dirt, and other debris from the underside of the car.
Wax and sealant: These services create a barrier between the paint and the elements, which can help to protect the car from salt and other corrosive materials.
Rust inhibitor: This service applies a chemical to the car that helps to slow down the corrosion process.
Salt Mitigation: Real Clean™ Salt Mitigation is the ultimate defense in mitigating the effects of salt on your vehicle.
Detailing: This service can be used to remove rust spots and other damage caused by winter salt corrosion.
How to Market Winter Car Care Services to Customers
Signage: Display signs in and around the car wash that promote winter car care services.
Website and social media: Update the car wash’s website and social media pages to promote winter car care services.
Email marketing: Send email newsletters to customers that promote winter car care services.
Loyalty program: Offer customers discounts on winter car care services through a loyalty program.
By offering the right services and marketing them effectively, car washes can help their customers to protect their vehicles from winter salt corrosion and keep them looking and running their best, even during the toughest winter months.
