Wash Your Car in the Wintertime
Keep the salt local road crews put on the road off your vehicle in a couple of ways. Either line up at the local car wash when the temperature allows or do-it-yourself with one of the methods suggested here.
Contents
Steps
Shampoo
- Use shampoo or baby shampoo (the milder the better). Fill a medium size bucket up halfway with warm water and use about one cap full of shampoo. Agitate (swish) the water to create suds.
- Fill another bucket of warm water for rinsing. Remember; don’t add any soap to this bucket.
- Make sure your car or truck is free of snow and ice. Use your hands or a brush to knock excess snow and ice from your vehicle. Ice may be tough to remove so just leave what is really stuck. You may have to use extra warm water to slowly melt it away.
- Dress warmly. The hand you are using to dip your washing mitt into the water should be glove-less.
- Start washing. Simply start on the upper portion on one side of your vehicle and systematically wash and rinse until the side is clean. As it says on the shampoo bottle you just used, rinse and repeat.
- Don’t forget to wash your wheels. They suffer the worst the road has to offer.
DIY coin-operated car wash with manual spray wand
This method has been used for decades in Ohio. It sounds crazy, but it really works.
- Keep the car running with the heater on the entire time you are washing it. If the temperature is below 32 degrees, do not use soap; soap is not needed below 32 degrees because the grime comes off anyway. Above 32 degrees, use soap.
- Washing can be done down to about 10-15 degrees below zero. Snow and ice take longer to get off of the wheel wells, undercarriage etc.
- Wash the car from the bottom up first. This is the most important area. Get the spray wand under the wheel wells, under the floor boards, rear end and front end.
- Work your way up to the upper parts of the car.
- Keep spraying the car around the doors, trunk, hood until the time is up.
- Leave the doors unlocked, opening them all if possible. Open the gas tank lid if fitted with one and wipe it out quickly so the door won't freeze shut.
- Done. The car will shine as if you used soap and sponges etc.
Tips
- One last thing to note – while washing your vehicle on your own during the winter saves you money, spending the extra dollar or two to visit the car wash may be an investment worth making once in a while. Getting the optional wax is a great way to protect against the salt and grime winter roads continually throw at your car or pickup truck.
- All of this becomes simpler if you have access to an outdoor water supply with warm and cold temperature control.
- If you can, use a large towel to dry your car or truck immediately after rinsing. And… wash on a bright and sunny day. This will help your vehicle dry quickly and prevent your doors from freezing shut.
Warnings
- Don’t pick a day with below zero temperatures. This can cause the water to freeze your doors shut or get into your keyholes and prevent you from using your keys.
Related Articles
Sources and Citations
- How to Wash the Exterior of Your Truck During Winter - Original source - Used with permission.
