Is Your Car Allergic to Pollen, Too? How to Deal With Pollen On and In Your Car

Pollen seems innocuous, but if left unchecked, it can damage your car’s paint and even reduce gas mileage and engine performance.

“Pollen season tends to catch drivers off guard because it doesn’t feel as urgent as winter hazards like ice or salt,” says driver education expert Lucas Waldenback. “But over a few weeks, it can affect visibility, air quality and even how easy your car is to maintain.”

Here are some preventative steps to keep your vehicle and the air inside safe during pollen season.

How Are Cars ‘Allergic’ to Pollen?

Just like pollen can cause respiration problems in humans, it can clog your car’s air filter, reducing its ability to intake air. Pollen is also especially rough on paint.

“It may seem soft to touch, but under a microscope, pollen actually has a spiky surface, and this can act like fine sandpaper,” says automotive specialist Matt Clamp.

How Does Pollen Damage Cars?

The most noticeable damage is to vehicle paint. When pollen particles get wet, they become acidic, corroding the clear coat and dulling the finish. They’re also abrasive, so if you dry wipe pollen off of your car, it will create micro-scratches.

Other ways pollen damages cars include:

• Lowering visibility and wiper-blade effectiveness;
• Causing micro-scratches on the windshield.
• Clogging cabin air filters. “This is especially noticeable for drivers with allergies, but it can also make the ventilation system less efficient,” says Waldenback.
• Clogging engine air filters, which restricts airflow, making your engine work harder. “Over time, that can reduce fuel efficiency and lead to engine damage,” says automotive expert Steve Haney.

How to Prevent Pollen Damage to Your Car

• Replace engine and cabin air filters at the start of pollen season, then check them periodically to make sure they’re not clogged.
• Clean your wiper blades with a wet cloth to remove pollen buildup.
• Never wipe off pollen when it’s dry.
• Use a water-repellent windshield washer fluid, such as one containing Rain-X.
• Regularly wash pollen off the car, so it doesn’t have time to bond with the surface. Car protection specialist Ken Huening recommends two or three times a week. “This is a good time to sign up for the unlimited wash level at your local car wash,” he says.
• Use a pH-balanced shampoo and a soft sponge.
• Apply paint-protective coatings like ceramic coatings or wax. “This can make it harder for the pollen to stick, and will make it easier to wash off next time,” says Clamp.
• Park in a garage or covered spot, or use a car cover. “At very least, try to avoid parking right under trees that make the most pollen, like oak, birch, cedar and ash,” says Haney.

“Prevention is mostly about consistency,” says Waldenback. “A common mistake is waiting until the car looks visibly dirty. By that point, pollen has often already mixed with moisture and formed a more stubborn layer.”

How to Keep Pollen Out of Your Car for Allergies

• Drive with your windows up and sunroof closed.
• Run the AC on recirculation mode to avoid pulling outside air into the cabin.
• Replace the cabin air filter at the beginning of allergy season. Use HEPA-rated filters, such as those made by Bosch.
• Vacuum floor mats and seats, and wipe the dashboard regularly. It can also help to clean your vents with compressed air or a brush, says Haney.

How to Properly Clean Pollen Off Your Car

Regularly wash your car or take it to a professional car wash. “Simply rinsing your car with a hose or waiting for rain isn’t a good idea, since pollen turns acidic when wet,” says Haney.

• Use pH-balanced soap and a soft cloth or mitt.
• Never wipe dry pollen. That will create micro-scratches in your paint.
• Pay attention to the places where pollen settles, such as the roof, hood, windshield and wipers. “Open the doors to clean the sills, and wipe down the rubber seals as well,” says Huening.
• Start from the top and work your way down.
• Wash, then rinse one section at a time. Also, “Wash the car in the shade if you can, so water and soap don’t dry too quickly on the paint,” says Clamp.
• Use light pressure; don’t scrub.
• Dry your vehicle with a microfiber cloth.
• Apply a wax or ceramic coating. Huening recommends the Teflon-based wax DriWash.

“This might feel like a never-ending cycle of washing your vehicle during pollen season, but this type of proactive car maintenance can help keep your car looking its best and get the most life out of it,” says Haney. “And who doesn’t love driving a shiny car?”

About the Experts

• Steve Haney is a corporate technical trainer at Bosch Mobility Aftermarket, and has more than 35 years of hands-on automotive repair experience.
• Lucas Waldenback is co-founder of Zutobi, a driver education platform used by millions of learners worldwide to understand road safety, vehicle care and responsible driving habits.
• Ken Huening is CEO of CoverSeal vehicle covers.
• Matt Clamp is an automotive specialist at Scrap Car Comparison, where he leads on vehicle valuations and the car scrapping process, providing insight into end-of-life vehicle trends, and the factors that make cars unsafe or uneconomical to keep on the road.

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