How to prepare your car for winter – 5 steps for complete autumn maintenance

Autumn brings the first frosts, dampness, fallen leaves and roads full of mud. Paint, plastics and the interior of the car take a beating and require quick but effective care to ensure cleanliness, shine and protection before the coming winter. In this article we show that even without a weekend marathon in the garage, a few proven products can achieve great and long-lasting results.All it takes are five proven products and your car will be not only clean, shiny and protected, but also thoroughly prepared for winter.Gyeon Q²M RestartWash – quick washing that also handles decontaminationAutumn car washing isn't just about rinsing off mud after the rain. After summer the paint holds dust, insect remains, asphalt and fine metallic particles that stick firmly to the surface. A classic shampoo won't deal with them – and that's where Gyeon Q²M RestartWash comes in. At first glance it looks like an ordinary shampoo, but it actually handles decontamination as well. In one step you both wash the car and remove most contaminants that would prevent protective coatings from bonding properly.RestartWash was originally developed for maintaining ceramic coatings because it removes contaminants that "suffocate" the coating and restores its original hydrophobic effect. It also works great on waxed or untreated paint, where it literally restarts the surface – returning smoothness, shine and preparing it for protection application.Usage is simple. First rinse the car with clean water to remove loose dirt. Then dilute RestartWash at a ratio of 1:500 (about 20–30 ml for a standard bucket) and wash the entire car with a wash glove. Let the shampoo work for 3 to 5 minutes. If you have a foam lance, you can use it as active foam. In both cases remember to wash the wheels as well; RestartWash handles metallic deposits too, so it can replace a dedicated Iron remover if you don't have one handy. Finally rinse the car thoroughly with a strong stream of water and dry with a clean microfiber towel.As always, working in the shade is ideal. Avoid direct sunlight, especially if the bodywork is warm. Morning or evening sun is fine if the surface is cool. If the paint is in poor condition after summer or you want a full decontamination, check our earlier article where we describe the whole process step by step.The first step is washing the body. The shampoo Gyeon Q²M RestartWash also handles decontamination.Gyeon Q² CanCoat EVO – ceramic coating that anyone can applyIf you already have a functioning ceramic coating that is not yet worn out, you can skip this step. RestartWash and a ceramic detailer will be enough. But if you want to give the paint new life, restore protection or try ceramic coating without stress, Gyeon Q² CanCoat EVO is an ideal solution.This little miracle proves that ceramic protection doesn't have to be complicated. Its formula is designed to work outdoors – you only need dry weather, some shade and a cool surface. After washing we recommend degreasing the surface with Gyeon Q²M Prep so the coating bonds perfectly. It's a few minutes of work that is definitely worth it. Then spray CanCoat 2–3 times onto the supplied microfiber cloth, spread evenly over a panel and immediately buff to a high gloss with a second dry cloth. Work in sections until the whole car is done.We recommend leaving the vehicle at least 12 hours in a garage or outside in sunshine (check the weather to avoid rain) so the coating cures properly. The next day enjoy the shine, slick surface and after rain luxurious droplets and minimal contamination – all lasting up to 12 months or roughly 12,000 km.CanCoat EVO is not only for paint. It works great on unpainted plastics, wheels, metal trims, wraps and even glass, where it can replace liquid wipers. You can therefore apply the above procedure to practically all exterior surfaces. And best of all – thanks to very low consumption, a 200 ml bottle covers 10–15 cars. So whether you protect a single car or a family fleet, this product won't disappoint. That's why it is currently the best-selling paint protection on Ahifi.Gyeon Q² CanCoat EVO is a ceramic protection with extra-easy application and suitability for the whole car, including glass and wheels.Gyeon Q²M Glass – perfect visibility in any weatherClean windscreen is not just about aesthetics but primarily safety. Especially in autumn, when rain, fog and low sun can make driving uncomfortable. Gyeon Q²M Glass is a cleaner that makes the whole job much simpler – it works quickly, leaves no streaks and produces a perfectly clear surface so your view is always optimal.Usage is absolutely easy. Spray it onto the surface, spread evenly and wipe dry with the other side of a microfiber towel. The glass will be clear in seconds, with no cleaner residue and no streaks. Thanks to fast evaporation nothing remains on the surface to disturb visibility or cause unwanted fogging. One important tip: always use a clean glass towel, it makes the job easier.Glass also works well on the inside of windows, removing grease, deposits and AC film. Its gentle formula means you can safely use it on displays and glossy plastics, and a drop accidentally touching Alcantara or leather is not a concern – Glass is safe for those surfaces too.A big advantage is that it does not remove protective layers such as CanCoat or other ceramic coatings on glass. You can therefore clean windows repeatedly without damaging their hydrophobic effect. Thanks to its simplicity, Q²M Glass should be in every car's glovebox – it's one of those products you'll use once and never want another.Glass cleaner Gyeon Q²M Glass ensures a streak-free clear view under any conditions.Gyeon Q²M Preserve – natural look and protection for plasticsAutumn is not only about protecting the paint, but also about details that make the car comfortable and durable. Plastic parts in the interior and engine bay have a hard life – UV, temperature swings and dry air from heating can quickly age them. Gyeon Q²M Preserve is an easy way to restore their natural look and protect them from aging.Before application it is good to clean the plastics with your favorite all-purpose cleaner or interior detailer. I personally like Gyeon Q²M TrimCleaner, which easily removes dirt and grease and leaves the surface not dried out like some other cleaners. It's more expensive, but its formula shows in surface quality. For regular maintenance TrimCleaner is sufficient.Application of Preserve takes minutes – just a very small amount on an applicator (ideally microfiber), spread evenly and let it dry for a few minutes. For a perfectly matte result wipe off with a clean cloth. The surface will remain matte, non-greasy, antistatic and protected against UV and dust for at least 3 months. And as a bonus: it smells like cherries.In autumn Preserve has another key advantage – it prevents cracking and freezing of rubber seals around doors and trunk lids. A light layer softens the rubber and creates a protective film. The work is worth it and in winter you won't be surprised by frozen doors or cracked seals. If you want to perfect details, use Preserve in the engine bay as well. In a few minutes you get clean, deep-looking plastics without shine or grease – the engine will look show-ready.Gyeon Q²M Preserve works on interior and exterior plastics, the engine bay and rubber seals.Gyeon Q²M Leather Set Natural – leather deserves care tooLeather in a car is a beautiful thing. It smells, looks luxurious and makes every ride special. But without care it quickly loses softness and natural appearance. Fortunately it doesn't take tricks – a little care brings it back to life. Gyeon Q²M Leather Set Natural is a complete kit for cleaning and protecting leather interiors.The kit includes the gentle LeatherCleaner Natural and the protective LeatherCoat, plus all necessary accessories for immediate work. Anyone can apply it. The era of stiff leather brushes is probably over and the Gyeon set doesn't include them. Instead take the ScrubPad applicator from the box, vacuum the interior, apply the cleaner to the pad and gently clean leather parts. A light foam forms during cleaning, which you then wipe off with the included microfiber towel. Then apply LeatherCoat with the supplied microfiber applicator to "nourish" the leather and create an invisible protection that repels dirt and grease. The result? Soft, fragrant and matte-clean leather that looks like new.Don't forget the steering wheel, where the most dirt accumulates – you may be shocked when you see the towel. Maybe it's a push to care for the steering wheel more often. If the leather is very neglected, use Leather Set Strong, but Natural is more than enough for regular maintenance. If you have fabric or Alcantara instead of leather, try the combination of Gyeon FabricCleaner and FabricCoat – it cleans, refreshes and protects against dirt and liquids without changing appearance or texture. I also use it at home on couches and chairs and I wouldn't do without this combination because it simply works.Care for leather interiors is provided by the Leather Set Natural, which includes a gentle cleaner, protectant and necessary accessories.Summary and a small autumn promo at the endAutumn is an ideal time to give your car a bit of care before winter really sets in. You don't need to lock yourself in the garage for a weekend or be a professional detailer. A few smart products that work are enough and in one afternoon you can have a clean, fresh and protected car that will serve you well even in the worst conditions.With Gyeon it's easy, fast and durable. Right now you can get all the products from this article with a 20% discount – just enter the code: PODZIM when ordering.Products eligible for the discount:- Gyeon Q²M Restart Wash – a decontaminating shampoo that cleans and restores.- Gyeon Q²M Prep – surface degreaser.- Gyeon Q² CanCoat EVO – spray ceramic protection anyone can apply.- Gyeon Q²M Glass – glass cleaner for perfect visibility.- Gyeon Q²M TrimCleaner – gentle cleaner for interior and exterior plastics.- Gyeon Q²M Preserve – protectant to revive plastics and seals.- Gyeon Q²M Leather Set Natural – complete leather care kit.- Gyeon Q²M FabricCleaner – effective and gentle cleaner for fabrics and Alcantara.- Gyeon Q² FabricCoat – hydrophobic coating for all textiles.Whether you go through the whole process or choose just one product, you'll see the difference immediately. In autumn the car simply needs a bit of care – and it will repay you.After applying the CanCoat EVO ceramic protection, the paint will be protected from the elements with strong hydrophobic effect and a beautiful gloss.