What To Do if Your Car’s Paint Is Damaged by Street Salt

River North Collision Repair • December 9, 2024

Street salt particles on black asphalt. There are cars parked and a person walking on the other side of the street.

Winter in Chicago can be tough on your car’s exterior. Street salt, while designed to keep your car safe from slick roads, can wreak havoc on your vehicle’s paint job. If street salts damage your car’s paint, find out how you can restore it with these insights.

Rinse Your Car Thoroughly

After each snowy commute, rinse your car as soon as possible to remove salt residues. Use a hose with warm water and start from the top of the car, working your way down. This approach washes away all the salty grime to reduce long-term damage.

Apply a Dedicated Car Wash Soap

A good rinse will mitigate damage, but for deeper cleaning, use a car wash soap designed to tackle salt stains. These products break down salt deposits without harming your car’s finish. Follow the instructions and use a soft sponge to avoid scratching the paint.

Use a Clay Bar for Stubborn Residue

When salt leaves a stubborn residue, invest in a clay bar for your car. This tool is excellent for lifting contaminants from the surface of your car’s paint. Gently rub the clay bar across the affected areas until the paint feels smooth to remove the embedded salt from the exterior.

Polish and Wax for Protection

Once your car is clean, apply polish to restore its shine and wax for added protection. Polishing smooths out minor scratches, while waxing creates a protective barrier against future salt exposure. Schedule a car wax appointment to prevent further street salt damage on your car’s paint.

Inspect Regularly for Chips and Scratches

Regular inspections help you catch small paint chips or scratches before salt causes rust. If you find any damage, repair it promptly using touch-up paint. This way, you can avoid costly repairs down the line and keep your car pristine in the Chicago weather.

Consider Professional Detailing

For thorough maintenance, schedule regular appointments for professional detailing. These professionals have access to high-quality products and tools that provide additional protection and shine. If you’re ever unsure about the damage you find on your car, stop by a car paint shop in Chicago to restore the paint.

Prepare for the icy roads in Chicago by looking out for paint damage from street salts. These maintenance tips and preventative measures will keep your car in excellent condition during the winter season. If you notice any severe damage or want to schedule an appointment with trusted professionals, contact our team for guidance and care.

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Why Ignoring Small Dents Can Lead to Bigger Problems

January 30, 2026

It is an awful feeling when you walk out to your car after a long day and see a small dent on your passenger door. While it may appear to be just a cosmetic issue, you should still get it fixed, because ignoring small dents can lead to bigger problems for your vehicle. Don’t let small dents on your car go untreated; let's talk about why you need to tackle these issues ASAP. Rust Loves Chicago Winters We all know the drill here in the Windy City. We have beautiful summers, sure, but we also pay the price with brutal winters. And what comes with winter? Salt. Tons of it. Your car’s paint job acts as a suit of armor protecting the metal body underneath. Even a minor dent often comes with microscopic cracks in the paint—sometimes too small to see with the naked eye. Once that seal is broken, moisture and road salt sneak in. They settle against the bare metal and start a chemical party you definitely don’t want to host. Oxidation begins immediately. By the time you notice bubbling paint or that tell-tale orange stain a few months later, the rust has already been eating away at your door panel from the inside out. Resale Value Takes a Nosedive For many people, maintaining their car is a valuable part of purchasing a new vehicle. When that day comes, curb appeal is everything. Used car buyers (and dealership appraisers) will judge your car by its exterior appearance. If they see a vehicle riddled with door dings, bumper scrapes, and ignored scratches, they see a car that wasn't cared for. They assume that if you didn't care enough to fix the outside, you probably didn't care about the rest of it either. It lowers the perceived value instantly. Maintaining your car’s body and its paint is an investment in your future trade-in value. Paint Damage Spreads Like a Virus When a dent or scrape compromises the integrity of the paint, the surrounding paint loses its grip. High-pressure car washes, wind, and temperature fluctuations cause the paint to flake away from the initial injury site. A scratch the size of a quarter can grow into a patch the size of a softball over a couple of seasons. It’s Easier (and Cheaper) Than You Think Here is the good news: fixing these things early is surprisingly affordable. Modern body shop technology is amazing. For many small dings where the paint isn't cracked, we can use techniques that massage the metal back into place without spraying a drop of paint. River North Collision Repair offers paintless dent repair in Chicago to fix minor dents. Regardless of what nicked your door, we can help remove the dents and maintain a seamless look for your vehicle. Don’t Wait for Problems Don't let minor dents turn into a big nightmare. Save your future self the headache (and the cash). Swing by River North Collision Repair for your quick and easy repairs. Because driving a car you’re proud of? That’s a feeling you can’t put a price on.