Brine and Sand: A Hidden Threat to Your Car’s Shine on the Kenai Peninsula
Brine and Sand: A Hidden Threat to Your Car’s Shine on the Kenai Peninsula
Living on the Kenai Peninsula, we know winter roads are a battle—snow, ice, and the Alaska Department of Transportation’s salt brine to keep us safe. But here’s a heads-up for Homer drivers: that brine might be doing more than melting ice. It could be softening your car’s clear coat, letting sand from the roads embed in the paint, leaving it scratchy and speckled. At Homer Auto Spa, we’ve seen it firsthand, and we want to help you protect your ride.
The brine—a mix of water and 23% sodium chloride—works great for de-icing but can weaken your car’s clear coat, the protective layer over the paint. Softened up, it’s like wet clay, letting sand kicked up by traffic sink in deep. You’ll feel it when you run your hand over the hood: a gritty, sandpaper-like texture. Look close, and you might even spot tiny grains stuck in the surface, dulling your car’s shine.
Scrubbing seems like the fix, but don’t do it—that’ll grind the sand deeper, scratching the paint for good. The only safe way to remove it is with a clay bar. This pro tool gently lifts sand and grime without harming the clear coat when used with a lubricant.
At Homer Auto Spa, our indoor bay and expert team clay bar your car to perfection, restoring that smooth, glossy finish.
Save time and money—don’t let DIY turn into damage. Book now at homerautospa.com, and let’s keep your car shining through Kenai’s winters!
Leave a comment