Pollen season comes back around faster than Christmas, right? It seems like we just finished battling the yellow dust on our vehicles and now we’re back at it.

No worries. As long as you don’t let those little particles stay stuck to your car or truck. See, regular car washes can keep pollen from doing serious damage to your paint. Oh yeah, bet you didn’t know pollen’s dirty secret (Fact #1)— it’s highly acidic, which is the last thing you want touching your vehicle’s surface.

Super-prepared drivers will use car wax or ZIPS Car Wash Z5x Ceramic Coating before pollen season hits. But those people are miles ahead of the game. So if you didn’t prepare, you can still prevent paint damage by washing your car regularly so the pollen’s acid has no time to do permanent damage.

There’s more to it though.

WHAT EVEN THE MOST PREPARED DRIVERS FAIL TO PROTECT

Your vehicle interior needs protection from dusty pollen too. And what’s in the interior? Humans! You and your family don’t want to inhale pollen (that’s for the bees).

Two air filters need to be checked before and during pollen season:

1. Cabin air filter
2. Engine air filter

First, the cabin filter keeps outside dust and tiny debris from drifting inside your vehicle. A clean filter is even more vital for people with severe allergies. 

• Inhaling pollen can lead to “allergic conjunctivitis” causing red, watery, itchy eyes 
• Pollen can also trigger asthma attacks in asthma sufferers

Second, we bet you didn’t realize the engine air filter can protect the engine from costly long-term damage (Fact #2). Engine problems from clogged filters can turn getting from point A to point B into a footrace, because you’ll be on foot. 

Not to mention, in the short term, a dirty engine air filter can reduce your fuel economy since the motor has to work harder. 

Clearly, it’s smart to check both types of air filters during pollen season. Some drivers check these filters while at the car wash washing off exterior pollen since it’s on their minds. Also, these filters are typically very affordable. For example, both types can be found for under $20 each on the most popular vehicle in the U.S. (Ford F-Series truck).

POLLEN SEASON WRAP-UP

Prevention is the best cure for pollen. But the next best thing is dropping by the car wash as often as possible when pollen counts are sky-high. Even a quick rinse is better than nothing at all to protect your ride from sticky acidic pollen. 

When you have free time though, it’s wise to check all the cracks and crevices for pollen residue. If you are at a ZIPS Car Wash just use our free vacs and towels to check and clean:

• Around vehicle emblems (Chevy logo for example)
• Inner door edges
• Seats / floor mats
• Hood and trunk edges
• Gas cap area
• Crevices of side-view mirrors

Because as you know, this seasonal yellow dust can end up everywhere!
Oh, and don’t blame the bees. Why? Bonus Fact #3: It turns out butterflies, hummingbirds, bats, and other critters also spread pollen.