How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

I've never bothered before, and I think it's taken its toll on our old car. We now have a "new" one and I'd like to keep it going as long as possible, so I've been wondering how to get all that damaging salt off in the winter.
Most of the car washes near me seem to shut down from December to April, and I don't like using them anyway.
As it's going to be sub-zero for nearly 5 months, the water will be off in the garage..... so, what do you all do?

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Touchless car wash every couple of weeks, and 3M paint protection film.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

I leave a nice layer of mud on in the autumn and wash it all off in the spring.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Leave it in the garage until spring?

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

:thumbsup:

I read the question and thought, "People wash their cars in winter?"

I did that once when I was 18 and had my first car. A balmy, sunny, freakishly plus zero day, I took it to the car wash. The next morning, the doors were all frozen shut.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

I honestly don't think I've seen a "touchless" car wash around here (I had to google to find out what it was!!).... and I'm sure they shut so many car washes because they're too tight to keep the water hot (or at least not frozen!)

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

That's what I've done in the past, and I'm sure it's wrecked the paint and trim... something I want to avoid, if I can!


We don't have buses around here...!

That's a problem I hadn't thought of.... if it's not fully dried, that could be awkward at -30!

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Similarly, I allow the layers of frozen-on snow and ice to protect the paintwork during the six month winter season.

The salt has no chance against these defences :blink:

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Wait for a warm day or two and wash your car. Pressure wand with soap then scrub with the shaggy foam mop then rinse. Just like dishes only bigger. Don't leave your lock de-icer in the glove compartent, put it in the house or in your pocket first. Lock de-icer only works some of the time. If your locks do freeze up don't waste a CAA call on it, get an extension cord and a hair dryer and you can thaw it out in a few minutes.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Is that a bit like driving an igloo?

Good tips about frozen locks! Thanks. Around here we don't really get any "warm" days until about April!

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

I did "google" this question before I asked here.... some people use a "dry wash" product that seems to be quite new. It's a spray that reduces dirt / salt etc. to tiny particles that won't scratch your paint when you wipe it off (supposedly!)... have any of you used that?

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

It's a car FFS. Why stress about it?

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

There's a bit of a sliding scale about what a warm day is; in February it may be -12..... When it's -18 or -25 and you park outside your doors will freeze. I think salt has always been more of a problem in eastern Canada than the west, but it's good to clean it off here too. I don't use the spray wax but it may help, anyone know?

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

This. My car is always dirty and stinks of wet dog. Amount of f**ks given = 0.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Because it's new and cost me a lot of money, you cranky old git.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

They wash mine every time it's serviced.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Calgarians appear to be obsessed with having clean cars in summer and winter. They are all full all the time. It's likely to be the next business I invest in.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Because that's what boring wankers do as they all live on those knobby estates, its the same in England.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

You bought a brand new car??:eek: More money than sense. I found the original sales sheet in my second hand car. Brand new price $21500. 2 years later 66k on the clock, price to Bats, $9500.

Hope you enjoy that new car smell.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Then why waste even more money keeping the damn thing clean? Check out the range between excellent condition and moderate condition on your car as a (let's say) 8 years old resale. It'll be less than $1000 (unless it's a Ferrari). You'd spend a hell of a lot more than that on weekly car washes and silly waxing products per year.

BTW The odd Canadian Ferrari driver doesn't use it in winter.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Cross post, but while I do buy new cars every few years ('cos I got loadsamoney) I wonder if your recent purchase was regularly washed in winter?

Presumably you never asked and presumably it didn't affect the price.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

No, it's "new"..... new to me, but 2 years old.

My plan is to keep it on the road until it goes to the scrap yard and I will do my best to prolong that day for as long as possible. I'd like to change every two or three years, but depreciation and taxes make that an expensive option.

Anyway.... has anyone tried that "waterless wash" stuff?

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

You presume correctly. It has the underseal thingy and the paint is all shiny and Inferno reddish. It even had that new car smell inside.

I have bought 2 cars from new but I kept them for a longish time. One was a Renault 5 which cost little more new than a second hand car. The second was my lovely Clio. I had that car for 6 years so the loss overall was less startling than 5K a year but it was still an indulgence.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Nah, sandblasting not a good idea.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

I'm plagiarizing this from a post on the French equivalent of the Maple Leaf by a regular there called le plumber:

"A blonde, wanting to earn some money, decided to hire herself out as a handyman-type and started canvassing a wealthy neighborhood. She went to the front door of the first house and asked the owner if he had any jobs for her to do.

"Well, you can paint my porch. How much will you charge?"
The blonde said, "How about 50 dollars?" The man agreed and told her that the paint and ladders that she might need were in the garage. The man's wife, inside the house, heard the conversation and said to her husband, "Does she realize that the porch goes all the way around the house?"
The man replied, "She should. She was standing on the porch."

A short time later, the blonde came to the door to collect her money.
"You're finished already?" he asked. "Yes," the blonde answered, "and I had paint left over, so I gave it two coats. "Impressed, the man reached in his pocket for the $50. "And by the way," the blonde added, "that's not a Porch, it's a Ferrari."

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Sounds just like my car.

And all my clothes.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

More money than sense?;)

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

You can buy that as a spray for $10. Much cheaper than washing the thing.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

And my house.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

don't bother in the winter - it's when the melt starts in the spring that it starts to be a pain :frown:

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Yes I did then. Single, living in London, having fun. More money/credit than sense.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Was it Mands??

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

No. As I said, le plumber. (Who really is a plumber, living in France, and who is remarkably helpful when some poor sap like me is trying to find a good deal on replacing a boiler).

Is Mandy blonde?

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Mandy is whatever she wants to be, because, just like me, she's worth it!

I haven't seen any car washes here, and it struck me the other day, as my car is bloody filthy. I like those ones with revolving brushes, not the wand jobs - I once did a particularly energetic wash with the wand and we had to have the car re-painted! A particularly non friendly weekend that one...

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

I'm quite sure that you are both worth it. I'm afraid I don't understand the rest of your post.

<but perhaps you can confirm the integrity of le plumber?>

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

<accidental power wash>
but you knew that really

As to le plombier I am sure he is a man of the highest character n'est ce pas?

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Probably not.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Saw this stuff on Dragons Den

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

Never tried it but some of the reviews are OK, others not so good, i would try it on the wife's car first :)

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Wait for chinooks to come in and then wash the car.
Washing the car is not too bad up to -15c. A good spray is fine.

Re: How do you keep your car clean in winter?
 

Up until last week yes.

Was it me??? Well you know my motto - if it moves - paint it :thumbup: