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With meteorologists predicting that the volcanic ash that has disrupted travel for the past week will now fall to earth, it could now present a further problem - for our cars.
The ash spewed into the atmosphere by Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano is composed of microscopic particles of rock, which is an irregular shape and particularly hard.
If rubbed against the surface of paintwork or glass, it is known to be abrasive, and the acidity could cause corrosion to exposed metals.
Motorists who encounter ash on their cars are likely to use the wipers, which could scratch the windshield and require costly repairs.
"The ash contains particles that are substantially larger, harder and more aggressively abrasive on paintwork and glass than normal atmospheric contaminants," explained Paul Caller, boss of British car care firm Autoglym.
"We are concerned that, as many motorists get their buckets and sponges out for the first time in the warmer weather, they could unwittingly cause damage to their own vehicles, unless they take extra precautions when cleaning their cars."
How to wash volcano dust from your car
1. Thoroughly soak car bodywork with water to loosen surface deposits.
2. Use a pH-neutral car bodywork shampoo solution to neutralize acidic fallout.
3. Use a number of smaller buckets rather than a single larger bucket to minimize the risk of ash particles being reapplied to bodywork on the sponge from contaminated water.
4. Keep the car wet with clean water while washing with a sponge - this keeps the surface of the paint lubricated to reduce the risk of scratching from any dust that remains on the bodywork.
5. Pay special attention to wiper blades - which may scratch the windshield when sweeping ash across the glass surface - and side window seals - which may harbor dust that scratches windows as they are wound up and down.
6. Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove all shampoo from the car.
7. Dry the car using a high quality microfiber drying towel or synthetic chamois.
8. Apply a quality polish or high definition wax in order to provide a durable, long-lasting layer of protection, preventing further contaminants adhering to paintwork, and forming a barrier against acidic deposits.
9. Use a specialist automotive rubber treatment to cleanse and protect rubber seals, wiper blades and tire sidewalls.
10. Wash frequently until the volcanic eruptions cease to minimize the risk of potential future damage.
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