Atlantic City is unusual among casino towns: the big resorts stand right on the beach, along a boardwalk that has been a seaside promenade since the nineteenth century. A weekend there means sea air, sand in everything and, quite often, a car parked within sight of the surf. Your car will not rust over a weekend, but salt and sand are worth dealing with when you get home.
What sea air does
Near the coast, the air carries fine droplets of salt water. They settle on paint, glass, wheels and the underbody, and when the water evaporates the salt stays behind. Salt attracts moisture and speeds up corrosion wherever it can reach bare metal: stone chips on the hood, scratches down to the primer, exposed brake parts and the underside of the car. Cars that live near the ocean all year show it most, but a regular weekend visitor collects it too.
Sand gets everywhere
Sand is a different problem. It is abrasive. Brushed off dry paint with a towel, it scratches. Ground into carpet by beach shoes, it wears the fibres and is hard to vacuum out. Packed into door seals and window channels, it causes rattles and scratches on the glass as the window goes up and down.
Before the trip
- A fresh layer of wax or sealant gives salt and sand something other than your clear coat to sit on.
- Rubber floor mats or a cheap towel in the footwells save the carpet.
- A small brush in the door pocket for shoes and feet before getting in after the beach.
When you get home
- Rinse first, generously. This is not a job for a waterless spray. Sand and salt need water to lift them off safely.
- Rinse the underbody and wheel arches. A self-service bay with a pressure wand, or an automatic wash with an underbody spray, does this better than a garden hose.
- Hand wash with the two-bucket method. Our two-bucket guide has the steps.
- Clean the glass, inside and out. Salt film on the windshield causes glare at night.
- Vacuum slowly with a stiff brush to loosen sand from the carpet first.
- Wipe the door seals and jambs with a damp towel.
Garage or open lot?
Most of the big boardwalk casinos have multi-level garages, which keep sea spray, gulls and sun off the car. An open lot right by the beach is the most exposed option. Wherever you park, it is worth a quick look at the car before the drive home.
For coastal residents
If you live by the sea all year, a monthly underbody rinse, regular washes and prompt touch-up of stone chips are cheap insurance against rust. Many coastal car owners also apply a ceramic coating or a durable sealant precisely because salt keeps coming back. The boardwalk is worth the trip; the salt is just the price of the view.
