Tumwater Auto Spa - State of the Art Car Washing Facility!

Serving the Tumwater Area Since 2005!

Car Care Tips

In the Pacific Northwest, we all know that keeping your vehicle clean and shiny can be challenging. With the wet weather of fall and winter comes toxic rain and snow as well as road grim that includes anti-icing agents. Spring and summer is road construction season in our area resulting in sand and loose rocks that can be very damaging to your vehicle's finish. Regardless of the season, you need to take steps to maintain your vehicle's surface extending its life and value.

Winter Tips

  • Don't wait too long in between washing your vehicle's exterior surface during the winter. Road grim is often times hard to see along your vehicle's surface. As you drive along, the combination of wind, water and road grime can cause scratches and chips on your vehicle's finish.
  • Wash your vehicle often during times of snow and ice. The anti-icing agents that are spread on the roads can cause rust and corrosion on and under your vehicle.
  • Cautiously remove snow and ice from your windshield. The scrapers are quite sharp and cause small chips in your vehicle's paint around the edge of your windshield. These are hard to see but if you notice them right away are easy to repair.

Spring Tips

  • We start seeing the road sweepers out in the spring after a long cold winter. This is a time to be vigilant about keeping your car's surface clean. The debris on the road can cause scratches and chips that can be easy to fix while small but if your car is left unclean and these problem areas go unnoticed they can become costly to repair.
  • The beauty of spring flowers, leaves and fruits can be beautiful, but also damaging to your vehicle's surface. Remove plant material from your vehicle's finish as soon as possible, and especially remove pitch from your car's surface. It comes off easily if fresh but left on the surface of your vehicle can be quite challenging to remove. Products are available to help remove pitch but be sure to follow your manufacturer's recommended care.

Summer Tips

  • Construction season in the Pacific Northwest causes new challenges to vehicle owners. Fresh tar, gravel, freshly painted road striping and asphalt can be very damaging to your vehicle's surface. Clean any of these quickly before they have time to set too long on your car's finish. Often, you may need to seek out a professional detail/auto body repair shop to repair the damage these elements cause.
  • Avoid parking underneath power lines where birds tend to roost. Remove bird droppings as soon as possible as it can be quite caustic to your vehicle's surface. Be cautious—rub these spots gently to remove the droppings so as not to scratch your finish.
  • Avoid parking too close to sprinklers as mineral spots can build up on from the water sprayed on your vehicle's surface. These can be removed by following your manufacturer's suggested care and using products specifically designed for this purpose.

Fall tips

  • The damp weather in the fall can cause your vehicle to have mildew buildup along the trim. Frequent washing can prevent this from happening.
  • Remove leaves and pine needles from along your windshield area to prevent leak problems from beginning that can ultimately damage the interior or your vehicle.

Other tips

  • Don't neglect your car's interior. Vacuum carpet and seats frequently to prevent dirt and grime from adhering to the material. Carwashes often have shampooers available. Make use of those and keep your interior clean. It will add years to the life of your vehicle and help maintain its value.
  • Remove gas spills from alongside your vehicle as soon as possible. Gasoline is very damaging to your vehicle's surface.
  • Check out your vehicle's finish periodically. It is a good idea to walk around the outside and do a visual check of the surface and trim. If caught early, scratches and chips can be fixed and trim can be reattached. Waiting too long can be costly and inconvenient.
  • Keep wheels clean. Brake dust and road grim can be difficult to remove if left on your rims too long. Frequent cleaning can keep them looking shiny and new. Products are available to spray onto wheels to help remove any buildup that occurs.