There are few things as stressful as running out to your car in a hurry only to realise that it's been covered with leaves that need to be removed before you drive off.
While it might seem tempting to let the wind take care of them as you're driving, experts warn against them.
They recommend all drivers to take the time to make sure their cars are free from the falling autumn leaves – as they can actually cause a lot more damage than you might think.
To help, experts at Tires Plus have shared four reasons they believe you should remove all fallen leaves from your car in order to protect it from expensive damage.
"4 reasons to remove leaves from your car," the first slide on the TikTok post read.
For their first point, they explained: "Acid from tree sap and pollen can damage paint."
These acids can leach into the clear coat, leaving unsightly stains or leaf-shaped "silhouettes" that can be difficult or impossible to remove without professional help.
When wet, leaves stick to the car's surface, allowing these compounds to seep into the paintwork.
Accumulated leaves can also cause physical damage like scratches and indents on the paint. Meanwhile, water accelerates the process even further.
Next up, the company explained that rotting leaves can also cause mould in the car's air filters if they are left there for too long.
If your car's air filter has mould, you will likely notice musty and unpleasent odours coming from the vents when the a/c or heating is on.
You might also realise that the airflow has got worse. Other signs include increased dust or mould around the vents, as well as drivers experiencing allergy-like symptoms.
Thirdly, the experts explained: "Drainage holes clogged by leaves can lead to water leaks inside your car."
Because of this, it's important to remove any leaves from the car, as they can get inside the engine, or cover up any drainage holes within it.
Finally, they shared: "Leaves trapped under the hood can clog air filters and affect performance."
Just like how rotten leaves can lead to the air filters of your vehicle getting mouldy, even if fresh leaves get inside the filter, it can significantlly affect its performance negatively by clogging it.
This will trap moisture more effectively, becoming a prime breeding ground for mould.
So how do you prevent all of this from happening? The simple answer is to remove all the leaves from your car regularly, even if you're not using it.
If you find this is not enough, you can also buy a cover for your car to help protect it from any falling leaves.
