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How to Prep Your Car for Spring Detailing [Complete Guide]
Winter leaves behind a mess—salt stains, road grime, dry plastic trim, and cloudy windows. But as temps rise and the sun comes back out, it’s the perfect time to reset your ride and bring back that showroom shine.
This spring detailing checklist gives you the exact steps and tools you need to get your car looking, smelling, and feeling clean again—from top to bottom.
Step 1: Deep Clean the Exterior
Use a High-Foaming Soap to Strip Winter Grime
The Super Soaper breaks down salt, dirt, and road film without stripping protection. Foam it on, let it dwell, then rinse and wash top-to-bottom.
- ✅ Safe on waxes and ceramics
- ✅ Perfect for foam cannon or pump sprayer
Check for Swirls, Etching, or Embedded Contamination
After your wash, inspect the paint in the sunlight. If it feels rough or looks hazy, it’s time for a decontamination.
Step 2: Clay the Paint and Prep for Protection
Use a Clay Pad or Clay Bar with Lubrication
The Scrub Buddy Pad helps safely lift off bonded contaminants like tar, salt film, or overspray from winter roads.
Wipe Clean and Inspect Again
After claying, your paint should feel smooth. Now it's ready for polish or protection.
Step 3: Apply a Fresh Layer of Protection
Use a Spray Ceramic Coating
Tough As Shell gives you months of shine, slickness, and water beading—perfect for the unpredictable spring weather ahead.
- ✅ Spray and wipe—no buffing or curing needed
- ✅ Use on paint, trim, wheels, and glass
Step 4: Clean and Refresh the Interior
Remove Salt and Moisture from Carpets and Seats
If you haven’t already, now’s the time to remove winter’s interior salt stains. Use Complete Cabin Cleaner to tackle every surface inside your vehicle safely.
Wipe Down All Surfaces with Microfiber
Use soft Everyday Microfiber Towels to clean your dash, vents, screens, and glass. No lint, no streaks.
Step 5: Finish with Tires and Trim
Use a Water-Based Dressing for a Factory Look
All Dressed Up restores tires, trim, and exterior plastic to a rich black—without the greasy shine or dust-attracting residue.
Bonus: Engine Bay Touch-Up
Spring is a great time to quickly clean the engine bay. Use The Super Soaper diluted in a sprayer and gently agitate with a brush. Rinse lightly and dry thoroughly before dressing plastics with All Dressed Up.
Customer Testimonial
"After winter, my car was trashed. I followed this checklist with Jimbo's products and now it looks better than it did last summer." – Verified Buyer
Recommended Products
- ▶ The Super Soaper
- ▶ Tough As Shell Ceramic Spray
- ▶ Complete Cabin Cleaner
- ▶ All Dressed Up
- ▶ Scrub Buddy Pad
Related Posts
- ▶ How to Remove Salt Stains from Your Car’s Interior
- ▶ How to Protect Your Car’s Paint During Winter
FAQ: Spring Car Prep
When should I do my spring detail?
As soon as temps are consistently above freezing and there’s less risk of salt on the roads—usually late February to early April, depending on where you live.
Can I use a foam cannon in spring?
Absolutely. It’s one of the best ways to safely remove winter grime without scratching the paint.
Do I need to polish my car after winter?
If you see swirls or dullness, yes. If the paint looks good, a decon + ceramic spray is enough to refresh and protect.
Final Thoughts
Spring is your chance to reset your ride. By removing salt, fixing winter damage, and reapplying protection, you’ll keep your car looking great—and extend the life of every surface inside and out.
