There’s no denying that winter is tough on your car – the grime and the weather are constantly assaulting both the interior and outside of your vehicle. When it’s cold and they days are short it’s hard to perform even routine maintenance and cleaning, so those things tend to slide in the winter months.

That makes spring the most important season of the year for keeping your car in top running shape. You need to shake off the cold and freshen up your car for the coming year. We’ve put together a Top 5 list of tasks to get your car ready for warmer weather.

Shed the Studs

One of the most important things is to get your studded tires off the car. Both Oregon and Washington prohibit the use of studded tires after March 31. In both states, you can get a hefty ticket for leaving your studs on after the end date.

If you have a second set of wheels with your summer tires, have those put back on your car before the end of the month. If you need to have your summer tires remounted on your wheels, take a good look and ask yourself if it’s time for new tires?

Fill Up on Fluids

Winter is hard on more than your car’s paint. By the springtime, it’s likely that you’re running low on windshield washer fluid, and your oil and other fluids will need a change. Plus, more water condenses in your fuel tank and in your engine oil in the winter – especially if you tend to drive your car for short distances.

So as a spring ritual, take your car in for an oil change and general service. Ask the mechanics to check your anti-freeze, washer fluid, fuel and air filters, and battery strength. Also ask the mechanics to check your brakes and exhaust system, too.

Don’t forget to change your wiper blades, too – winter rain and slush have made the rubber edges brittle, and you need a new set for cleaning summer bugs off your glass.

Shine up the Outside

Once your engine and brakes are freshened up, don’t forget to give your car a good detailing. Wash and wax the paint and polish up your chrome. Don’t forget to clean your wheels, because brake dust is sticky and will pit the finish over time.

While you’re working, pay careful attention to the paint at the front of your car, and your windshield. Here in the Pacific Northwest we use gravel on the roads in the winter, and those little rocks have been pelting your car since November. Check for paint chips, scratches, and windshield dings, and ask your body shop about getting those touched up to prevent rust and further loss of paint. If the paint is where you want it, maybe it’s time to consider a “3M clear mask” protective covering? These can be quite affordable, and will make rock chips a thing of the past.

Freshen The Cabin

Don’t forget to clean your car’s interior, too. Winter means you’ve been tracking dirty water, snow, and mud into your car. All that ends up in your floor mats or your carpet, and on your seats. Over time, that grunge not only changes the color of your upholstery, but also affects the smell inside your car. If you stored your car in the garage over the winter, you may also have provided a home for mice – and they definitely leave an odor.

The best thing is to take your car for a complete interior detail job, but if you do it yourself, be sure you clean everything completely. Move the seats forward and back all the way and remove any loose french fries from the crannies, or they will attract pests. A couple of those little silica packets that come with packing boxes or water absorber from the grocery store will help dry things out. And while you’re at it, replace your car’s cabin air filter – nothing will do more to keep last year’s smell in the past.

Check the Lights

Winter is as hard on light bulbs as any other part of your car. Temperature changes and leaking lens seals are the worst offenders and it’s likely you have at least one burned-out bulb by the time spring rolls around. Missing lights is not only a safety issue, it can draw unwanted attention from police and get you ticket!

It’s best to get a friend to help, but you can do this by yourself. Perform a basic light check on a cloudy day or at dusk. Check the low and high beams on your headlights, try the fog lights if you have them, then check basic running lights, turn signals all around, all the brake lights, and your puddle/courtesy lights. Then inside the car, check dash lights, dome lights, and map lights. If your car has a hatchback, check that light too. Make a list of all lights that need replacing. Your mechanic can replace these for you if you don’t have the tools to get the lenses off. If you notice that your headlight lenses have yellowed or scuffed, your mechanic can fix that, too.

Finally, turn the key to the on position, but don’t start the car. You should see all the warning lights on the dash come on. If any warning lights are not working, have those fixed immediately!

That’s about all there is to it. With your car cleaned up and topped up, you’re ready to enjoy the active part of the year.