Dirty MINI

My least favorite thing about winter? Dirty roads. They lead to dirty shoes, pant legs and most disturbingly dirty cars.

Beautiful winter snowflakes undoubtedly lead to gray mush and salt, wrecking havoc on cars. But there are some steps you can take to minimize the impact of these cold-weather foes on your MINI's finish.

• Wash your car as often as possible. Try to keep up with the weather forecasts. Anytime you see a patch of clear weather, treat your MINI to a shower. Don't forget to wash underneath your car, where most of the salt will accumulate.

• Never use warm water to clear ice off the windshield or headlights - the glass can break on contact from the temperature difference.

• Use caution when brushing snow off your MINI. The dirt particles that are hiding under the snow can inadvertently scratch the surface. Use a soft brush in a short, straight pattern, without removing the very bottom layer of ice.

• Never brush snow off the body panels. Unnecessary and can often lead to scratches.

Stay warm!