Pollen Isn't Just Bad For Your Allergies, It Can Wreak Havoc On Your Car Too

Hacking, sneezing, coughing, blocked sinuses, runny nose — it's that season again. Our eyes start to run just thinking about it. But if it makes you feel any better, your car feels your pain. The same pollen that causes you so much misery every year can do quite the number on your vehicle, in multiple ways.

How so? For one thing, pollen can be hard on your car's paint job. Dry pollen is coarse and abrasive, meaning it can cause micro-scratches to your clear coat when wiped or rubbed in. Those micro-scratches weaken the clear coat over time. Wet pollen, meanwhile, is acidic. It interacts with the clear coat so as to break it down on a molecular level. The pollen may look like it's just lying on top of your car, but it is actively destroying the paint, a tiny bit at a time.

But that's not all. Pollen can stick to your windshield and other glass, reducing visibility and becoming a safety hazard. Left on the glass long enough, it can weaken the glass. It can also stick to your windshield wipers, which can cause scratches on the glass. Pollen can cover sensors and cameras, which is yet another safety hazard. It can also clog the cabin air filter. It's even one of the things that can make your A/C smell musty. And you thought your hay fever was a problem. Pollen is not your car's friend, and should not be allowed to remain on top of it.

It's obvious you don't want that nasty pollen to stay on your vehicle. You should not, however, just wipe it off with your hand or dry wipe it with a towel or something. Like we said, pollen is abrasive. If you try to dry wipe it, you'll end up scratching your clear coat. You may not be able to see those scratches, but they are big enough to cause problems and weaken the clear coat. Instead, washing should be a key part of your spring car care routine.

That also means that every wash should begin with a good rinse, before you touch it with a rag or sponge. This allows the pollen to run off with the water, instead of scratching the clear coat as it is being wiped off with a sponge or mitt. Once the car has been rinsed all over, then it's time for the soap. Some call this the "two-bucket" method, because you have one bucket with plain water and the other with soapy water. But it works out even better if you can use a hose for the rinsing parts. Speaking of the rinsing parts, make sure to give the car a thorough rinse after soaping it down.

Don't forget to change your cabin air filter, too. Some recommend changing it every 12,000 to 15,000 miles. But you may want to change it more often if you live in a high-pollen area.

So, do you need to wash your car every day to keep the pollen from staying on your car long enough to do damage? No, washing your car excessively can also wear down the paint finish, and you don't want that. Certain kinds of automatic car washes are especially bad for your paint job, if you visit them too often. Give your car a good wash every week or so.

Will polishing your vehicle keep the pollen off of your car's paint? Waxes can help for a short time, but your best line of defense is that weekly washing. Paint sealants, which can last three to six months, and ceramic coatings are more durable than wax and can protect against pollen.

Make sure to change the blades on your windshield wipers as soon as they appear worn or stiff. Otherwise, you could end up with pollen smeared across your windshield. Blades typically need to be changed annually, at least. You'll also want to keep the washer fluid topped off. Try to use washer fluid that can break down organic material. Include the car's glass in your regular rinsing and washing routine. Pollen can get inside windshield cracks and make them worse, so repair cracks as soon as you see them.

Pollen doesn't have to become a major problem. Follow these suggestions and you can keep it at bay — at least when it comes to your car. We can't help with the hay fever, though. Sorry.