Overdrive

  • Car Care
  • Service Center Resources
  • News
  • Product Updates

How to Properly Wash Your Car in the Winter

Openbay Rear Windshield Wiper Snow

If you live in a warm state like California, your mechanic probably doesn’t know much about salt residue and the problems that it can cause. If you live in a cold weather state, however, your mechanic can tell you all too well just how bad salt can be.
Do yourself a favor and read how you should  properly wash your car in the winter to help prevent rust, erosion and other potential problems.
Try Water
Water is just one of those miracle substances that seems to fix so many things – and salt on the underbody of your car is just one. If you don’t have access to an indoor carwash (they do exist), wait for the weather to warm up a bit and then use a wand sprayer attached to a garden hose to thoroughly and carefully spray the bottom and sides of your car.
Don’t do this in cold weather in your driveway, otherwise the cold water on the car and on the driveway will freeze and then you’ve got yourself a whole different problem.
Remember to be thorough and spray the entire underbelly thoroughly.
Clean It Up
Of course, years of accumulated salt is going to get pretty tough and water may not be enough to get it all off your car. If so, attach your wand sprayer to a container of car wash solution or Simple Green cleaner, available at most hardware or auto stores. Spray the cleaner on the car carefully and then remove the cleaning attachment and rinse well with clean water
Be Serviced
If you can afford it, it’s well worth it to take the car to a professional car wash and have them provide a full-service wash. This will include a good scrubbing to get all that salt and debris off your car and leave it spick and span. Consider doing this once every two or three months just to make sure you aren’t leaving salt behind.
Ignoring the fact that salt builds up on your car during the winter months can cause problems later down the road. Help avoid some of these (potentially costly) issues by cleaning your car regularly in the winter time.

Nov 11, 2012openbay
What Your Car Dashboard Symbols Mean4 Dangerous States to Drive In During Winter
You Might Also Like
 
Do It Yourself Car Wash Best Practices
 
Spring Cleaning Checklist: How to ‘Marie Kondo’ Your Car
openbay
November 11, 2012 Maintenance Tips, Seasonal car cleaning, car wash, cleaning salt off cars, winter car wash
Openbay

Openbay, an award-winning online e-commerce marketplace for automotive repair and services and a provider of SaaS-based solutions for the automotive care industry, is transforming the experience for automotive repair and service for consumers and the way that automotive care businesses acquire and service customers.

Contact Openbay

Reach out to Openbay to learn more.

Address: 10 Canal Park, Cambridge, MA 02141

Phone: 617-398-8888

Email: [email protected]

About

Openbay, an award-winning online marketplace for automotive repair and services and a provider of SaaS-based solutions for the automotive care industry, is transforming the experience for automotive repair and service for consumers and the way that automotive care businesses acquire and service customers.

Contact Openbay

To learn more about Openbay marketplace and subscription services, contact us today.

Address: 10 Canal Park, Cambridge, MA 02141

Phone: 617-398-8888

Email: [email protected]

openbay.com

Openbay Solutions
  • Openbay marketplace
  • Otis 
  • Business profile page 

Have an Openbay representative reach out to me

2023 © Openbay Overdrive