Best way to clean the salt off your car.

[Camaro4Life2011]

Hey guys I was just wondering what the best way was to clean salt off your car. Is a simple hose down enough? Or would a car wash be more preferable (even though im pretty against bringing my baby to a car wash).

[mulehead7]

Brushless car wash with a good bottom blaster in the way in or else the self service bay with the wand is what I use.

[Chaotic73]

I would like to know this as well. Although I have been able to keep it in the garage for the first wave of snow to hit NJ. With it being my DD it's just a matter of time till I have to drive it in the snowy weather.

[Moose]

My Jeep had a nice "crust" almost from the recent snowstorm, covered with salt, brine, etc...:(

I prefer to give it a very good "hose down" using just water, including the wheelwells, and undercarriage. Once it's rinsed thoroughly, I give it a good bath using a high quality car wash.

You could visit a coin operated car wash and use a high pressure wand ONLY to rinse away most of the grime. But a good rinsing using at home will do the trick just as well.

I also have a sponge dedicated for use ONLY when washing during the winter. Come spring, its time for new supplies. Be sure and give the wash mitt a good cleaning as well after each use.

[detroit iron rules]

Most important of all. DO NOT use any kind of brush or use a drive through car wash. The salt will scratch the clear coat. Use a DIY wash bay that has a pre soak wash system. It works very well. Dry with a synyhetic shammy. From past experience, this system works best all year round.

[Stex]

A long thread, Junkman has some comments: Main thing on a touchless drive thru is do not wipe it down afterwards as there is still dirt on the paint and drying with a MF towel will swirl the paint etc...

http://adamsforums.com/forums/showth...?t=9570&page=6

Or try this, you would have to be able to spray under the car/truck...I do this but take the two buckets and wash pads for the two bucket wash and do not use the brush...

http://adamsforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8944

Or move to the south...??

[Camaro4Life2011]

hose is frozen :(

[rtcat600man]

I treat it like how to play a golf shot out of a sand trap. Never get into and you won't have to hit out of it.

So if you don't drive in it you won't have to worry about cleaning it.

Sorry couldn't resist.

[SC2150]

Move to a state that dosent use it.

[CamaroDreams07]

Originally Posted by Camaro4Life2011

hose is frozen :(

Drive through coin-operated wash. Just spray it down, don't use their brush under any circumstances.

[Mr_Draco]

I drive mine up onto a set of ramps and rinse it and the undercarriage off at home whens it's fairly warm out.

Personally I don't like the drive in DIY car washes. They recycle the water so you end up blasting your car with micro pieces of salt that came off of every car before you.

[Revo1]

The best way is for F's sake, don't get it on there to begin with! Unless your car is particularly fond of chemo...

I take it she's your daily?

[Mr. Wyndham]

Rinse'er off. If you have the time and willpower to wash the car while temperatures are freezing or below -- more power to you.

Me? During the winter I take my car through the car wash every couple of weeks. My only opportunities to wash it are after it's gotten dark out....and it's usually 20�° or less out.

The wash I go to has a pre-soak stage, and a decent undercarriage rinse. Plus an okay-clearcoat 'protectant' that repels some of the nasty stuff for at least a week or two.

[Rogue Leader]

Theres a spray cleaner from ZEP that we use at my firehouse called Formula RTU-45, I usually crawl around my undercarriage and spray it with that first, then hose it down, in the wheelwells on the suspension and brakes as well. Works very well to remove any salt stuff.