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Thankfully, the winter of 2015/16 is now behind us. No more iced-over windshields, frozen door locks, snow or road salt to deal with! Springtime brings its own particular annoyance, though…tree pollen.

For some of us, that means runny noses, wheezing and sneezing fits. For all of us, though, it means a film of greenish-yellow powder deposited on car bodies and glass. If left too long, pollen can actually damage your paint and start to corrode your car’s body.

In early spring, trees (conifers in particular) blast large amounts of pollen into the air. This environmental fallout is right up there with tree sap, bird droppings and acid rain when it comes to potential damage to your car’s painted surfaces…and as you know, rain isn’t always effective for getting this stuff off your vehicle.

What To Do About Pollen

The best and simplest thing you can do is just wash and wax your car. Don’t use something like dish soap – detergents will strip any wax from your car’s finish. Use special car wash solution and wash your car with a sponge or rag, starting at the roof and working your way down. Sponges are probably the best for removing any stubborn grime from the car’s surfaces. Dry the car off with a clean towel or just wait for the sun to do its job, then give the car one or two coats of a good-quality paste wax. Wax helps protect paint against UV rays as well as helping it repel water, pollen and grime easily. Make sure it’s not a heavy pollen day when you wax the car, otherwise you might just end up grinding more pollen into the paint! Wax should usually be applied about once per quarter, or when water no longer beads up on the car’s painted surfaces.

What About Inside The Car?

Most newer vehicles are equipped with a cabin air filter that traps dust, pollen spores and other contaminants before they can make their way into your car’s interior. Often neglected or forgotten, the cabin air filter is usually mounted behind the glovebox. If it’s left too long, it can impede air flow through the car’s HVAC system and can result in pollen, dust and other junk circulating through the car’s interior.

If you’ve been noticing subpar performance, strange smells or other problems with your car’s A/C, don’t just live with it…make an appointment with Van’s Tires & Service. We’ve got five locations around the greater Akron area, and a staff of ASE-certified technicians to take care of any problems you might be experiencing. Meanwhile, wash that car, put a coat of wax on it and get rid of all that built-up pollen before it has a chance to do any damage…and try to not have a sneezing fit while you’re doing it! The pollen will be gone soon enough, and we’ll be into another Ohio summer before long.