NC Pollen Car Wash Guide
Ah, it’s that time of year again in North Carolina, when the air is not just filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the cheerful chirps of returning birds, but also with the sneaky, yellow-green dust of pine pollen. That’s right, the tiny, powdery invaders are back to coat everything in sight – from our cars to our patio furniture, and even our beloved pets if they stand still long enough! While the pine pollen season might bring the promise of greenery and renewal, it also brings the much less appreciated promise of extra car washing sessions. But fear not, dear reader! This blog post is your ultimate guide to navigating the pine pollen siege with a smile on your face and a sponge in your hand. Get ready to arm yourself with the best car washing tips that will leave your ride sparkling clean, even when Mother Nature decides to sprinkle her yellowish-green confetti all over it. Let’s dive into the pollen-covered, soapy water together and emerge victorious!
What’s up with NC Pollen?
When spring arrives in North Carolina, it doesn't just herald the arrival of warmer days and blooming flowers; it also signals the onset of pollen season, a time when the air becomes thick with microscopic particles. These tiny, almost invisible grains are crucial for the fertilization of plants, including our vast forests of pine trees, which are notorious for producing copious amounts of pollen. This yellow-green dust finds its way onto everything, creating a visible layer that serves as a reminder of nature's ongoing cycles.
“To determine when the pine pollen season will begin and when the trees will be producing the maximum amount of pollen one needs to estimate the number of degree-days above 55o Fahrenheit after February 1. To determine degree-days, add the positive differences between the daily high temperature and 55 degrees. When the total degree-days sum to approximately 300 degree-days we begin to see the pine tree releasing pollen. Once a sum total of 636 degree-days is reached, pollen production is at its peak. In the Raleigh area pine pollen production is just beginning, and if the weather pattern holds, it should reach peak production by mid-April.”
Alright, so we know pollen is going to cover everything in mid-April, but what to do about it? For those of us not fortunate enough to have a garage, we need to do something about the pollen for not just the look of our car, but also safety and visibility.
Traditional Car Washing
Whether you take it to the automatic car wash or just use a hose with a bucket of soap, doing a full wash every few weeks will make a huge difference. The best times of day to wash your car are the morning before about 10AM, and the evening after about 6PM. This is important so that the cleaning and rinsing water does not dry too quickly and leave water spots. Any auto parts store will have car wash soap, micro fiber towels for drying, and scrubbers for washing. In my experience, there’s not much difference between different brands of car wash soap, and some of them even include wax in the soap.
Power Washing?
If you or a neighbor has a power washer, it can be very helpful in getting pollen out of the cracks and crevices in your car. Be careful not to set it to a very high setting, as it’s possible to strip pain off of your car. And really, a power washer is an optional luxury, not strictly necessary.
Inside the Engine
Dirty Air Filter
The engine contains an air filter that, well, filters the air going into the engine for internal combustion. This filter will pick up all the pollen and dirt so it doesn’t clog the engine, and changing it is straightforward on most cars. A new filter will set you back $20-$30, but as you can see above, they can get filthy.
There are also cabin air filters, which filter the heat and A/C coming into the cabin of the vehicle. These can be a pain to change on some vehicles, often requiring removal of parts of the dash. Check a YouTube video for your specific car to see if it’s easy to do yourself.
Wipers and Fluid!
New windshield wipers with topped off fluid are so easy and so vital for pollen season. You can pick up a pair of decent wiper blades for $40, and the fluid is like $4 a gallon. Definitely take the time to do this, as you’ll be using your wipers every morning to clean off pollen from the night before. And be sure to use washer fluid that won’t freeze and expand at low temperatures, like water would. You don’t want a cold snap blowing up your washer fluid reservoir.
That’s it!
And there you have it, folks – your very own survival guide to conquering the pollen apocalypse in North Carolina! With a bit of elbow grease, strategic car care, and perhaps a dash of good humor, we can all emerge on the other side with our sanity (and our car's shine) intact. So, grab your wash mitts, your hoses, and maybe even a pollen-proof suit if you're feeling extra adventurous. Remember, it's all in the spirit of embracing the beautiful, if slightly sneezy, rites of spring. Let's face it, a little pollen can't dampen our spirits when we're armed with the right tools and a can-do attitude. Here's to clear skies, clear cars, and the triumphant feeling of blasting through a pollen-coated world with the cleanest car on the block. Pollen, consider yourself warned: we're ready for you, and we've got the power of soap on our side!
