Preparing Your Car for Summer
Winter is hard on a vehicle. Paintwork is exposed to aggressive deicing chemicals and grit, while snow, salt and dirt are carried into the cabin on footwear. In freezing weather, upholstery and floor mats are difficult to dry. As temperatures rise, residual road salt can become even more corrosive, so spring is the right time to remove winter contamination and prepare the car for summer. KERRY® products can help with every stage.
Clean the Engine Bay
During winter, the engine bay collects dirt saturated with deicing chemicals. A water-based foaming engine cleaner with effective surfactants is particularly well suited to this type of contamination. Warm the engine only slightly, switch it off and protect moisture-sensitive electrical components with plastic film. Apply the foam evenly throughout the engine bay, allow it to work and collapse for 5–7 minutes, then rinse carefully with water. Follow the instructions on the product and never clean a hot or running engine.
Power engine cleaner (solvent-free)
Engine cleaners
Engine cleaner
Engine cleaners
Foaming engine cleaner
Engine cleaners
Engine cleaner
Engine cleanersWash and Polish the Body
For hand washing, choose a KERRY® concentrated car shampoo and use only the dilution stated on the label. Excess concentrate raises alkalinity, can accelerate aging of the paint and exterior trim, and simply wastes product. Do not wash in direct sunlight: hot panels make shampoo dry before it can be rinsed, leaving difficult streaks.
Avoid polishing hot paint in direct sunlight for the same reason. Car wax dries almost immediately on a heated panel and becomes difficult to spread and buff. Work in the shade on clean, cool paint, one section at a time.
Carnauba car wax
Polishers
Body renew car wax
Polishers
Metallic and pearl color enhancing car wax
Polishers
Color enhancing car wax for all shades of black
Polishers
Color enhancing car wax for all shades of red
Polishers
Color enhancing car wax for all shades of blue
Polishers
Color enhancing car wax for all shades of green
Polishers
Color enhancing car wax for all shades of silver
Polishers
Handwash car shampoo (concentrate)
Car shampoo
Handwash car shampoo (concentrate)
Car shampoo
Deep-Clean the Interior
Fabric Surfaces
First dry and vacuum the cabin, then remove, wash and dry the floor mats. Use KERRY® low-moisture upholstery cleaner on fabric surfaces, especially in cool weather when damp trim takes a long time to dry. It is also suitable for the headliner, where wet extraction should not be used because excessive moisture can deform or detach the fabric. Treat heavy soiling with a more intensive velour and fabric cleaner, then allow the surface to dry fully and vacuum it. After cleaning, an interior odor neutralizer can be misted onto dry fabric and spread with a microfiber cloth to help prevent musty odors.
Foamy interior dry cleaning
Interior fabric cleanersPlastic
Treat plastic panels with KR-905 or KR-505 for a matt finish, or KR-908 for a gloss finish. Apply the cleaner and polish to a microfiber cloth first, then wipe the panel. This gives precise coverage and keeps silicone overspray off the glass.
Door Trim
Door trim often combines fabric and plastic. KERRY® KR-974 Active Foam Interior Cleaner works on fabric, plastic and glass. Spray the foam onto the surface, allow it to work for 1–2 minutes, then wipe it away with a soft cloth. Apply dashboard polish to plastic parts after cleaning.
Active foam interior cleaner
Interior fabric cleanersLeather
KERRY® KR-981, KR-581 and KR-281-1 Leather Cleaner and Conditioner products remove dirt while natural waxes and conditioning agents help keep leather soft and supple. Regular care protects upholstery against premature aging, drying and cracking.
Leather Cleaner&Conditioner
Leather care products
Leather Cleaner and Conditioner
Leather care products
Leather Cleaner and Conditioner
Leather care productsGlass
Clean the inside of the windows with KR-922 foaming Glass Cleaner or KR-520 trigger-spray Dirt and Bug Glass Cleaner. A clean windshield matters particularly in low, bright sunlight, which highlights every film and smear and can impair visibility.
Dirt and bug glass cleaner
Glass cleaner
Glass cleaner
Glass cleanerClean the A/C System
Dust and dirt accumulate on the air-conditioning evaporator, creating favorable conditions for mold and bacteria. Clean the system before regular summer use with KERRY® KR-916 A/C System Cleaner. Treat the ventilation ducts, wait five minutes, then remove the cabin air filter. With recirculation on and the climate-control fan at maximum speed, spray the cleaner into the air intake, usually located in the front passenger footwell. Let the system run for 10–15 minutes, then ventilate the cabin.
Protect Winter Tires During Storage
Before storing winter tires until late autumn, clean them and apply KERRY® KR-550 or KR-953 Tire Shiner to the dry sidewalls. The silicone film protects rubber from environmental exposure and helps slow aging and cracking. If the tires cannot be dried after washing, use KR-951 Foamy Tire Cleaner instead; its protective effect is lighter, but it can be applied to wet rubber. Never apply tire-care products to the tread or braking surfaces.
Tire shiner
Tire shiners and cleaners
Foamy tire cleaner
Tire shiners and cleaners