Halloween has come and gone, the first nor'easter barreled through like a freight train, and Thanksgiving is on the way.
Ah, yes, it's time to get the cars ready to tough it out through winter again.
In this rough economy, there are a lot of changes for many of us.
One of the changes I'm noticing is families consolidating homes or moving out of a single family home into an apartment or condominium.
We all do what we must to get by, but don't forget to protect your automobile.
Just a few hours of love will make all the difference this winter.
Winter is the most difficult time of year for automobiles, especially when they are parked outside.
While parked in the driveway or on the street your vehicle is exposed to some very extreme conditions.
Snow, icing, hail and road salt will all take their toll.
The cold, dry air is brutal, too.
It sucks the life out of plastic, rubber, leather and your paint.
There are some basic steps you can take to help your vehicle make it through the next few months intact.
It all starts with cleaning and conditioning.
If it's not already too cold, I recommend a thorough washing followed by detailing clay.
If you're not familiar with the detailing clay bar, it's a cleaning tool that quickly and easily removes all of the bonded contamination and junk that built up on your paint and glass over the summer.
Simply soap up the paint (or spray with a quick detail spray) and gently rub with the clay bar.
Your paint will be super slick in a matter of minutes.
The silky smooth finish is now ready for waxing.
Plus, the wax will glide on easier and wipe off faster because the paint finish is so clean and slick.
The difference is amazing.
For best protection, don't use a traditional car wax.
Invest just a few dollars more and treat your car with a paint sealant.
I recommend one of the latest clear seal products that let you wipe on and walk away.
Look for Optimum Polymer Technology's Opti-Seal.
You can treat a full-size sedan with less than one-quarter of an ounce of product, and it takes less than ten minutes.
Don't forget the tires and trim, too.
The cold, dry air is brutal.
In winter I suggest a gel because the coating will last longer than regular protectants.
Meguiar's Endurance is a good option, and it's available just about everywhere car care products are sold.
Before you duck inside to get out of the cold, give your car's interior the attention it needs.
Although it may seem to be safe from the ravages of winter, it's not.
The dry air is a killer, and the sun's UV rays have less ozone filtration in winter.
Unless you do something, your dashboard, leather seating and door panels are sitting outside, silently being chewed up.
The solution is 303 Aerospace Protectant.
It's amazing.
Simply spray and wipe on all plastic, leather and vinyl surfaces.
All of those precautions are great and they help immensely.
However, the waxes and protectants can only do so much, and they can't compare to having your car safely tucked away in a garage.
So, what's the option? For me the next best thing is keeping my car under wraps with a winter car cover.
I ordered the Covercraft Noah because it has the best reputation for being nearly 100% waterproof.
It holds its own in rain, snow and icy conditions.
All the while your vehicle is safe and dry.
Granted, it's not as easy as a garage with an automatic door opener, but it's a close second.