i know you're not supposed to wash under 40 degrees. but, its been weeks now that i haven't been able to do anything and according to the weather channel its going to be at least another 10 days.
i've got weeks of salt buildup on the car. i'm not trying to make it as detailed as i would in good weather...i just want to get all the damn salt off!

any recommendations from those who know?!!
thanks in advance

 

Who says you can't wash under 40 degrees?

Keep in mind if the car is parked outside salt will not start to react with metal until 32 degrees, so if the car is outside all the time you're ok. If you park in a garage it's a good idea to get the salt off every once in a awhile.

I personally hit a coin op, put $2 in, and spray the salt off. I don't wash, no point. Just get all the salt off, get the wheel wells, brakes, springs and shocks, underneath as much as you can etc.

 

ONR is your friend! Optimum No Rinse

Danase.com is where I got my gallon! If you buy the gallon, just make sure that the cap on the gallons is really .5 ounce, not 1oz as stated on directions.

 

i didn't wash my car for 5 months...

my water pipe is turned off so it won't freeze nd break

can i use warm buckets of water to wash the car in the cold?

 

I have already washed my car in 33 degree weather.......I use warm/hot water to wash, and rinse and dry immediately......if not, you could have the rinse water start to freeze.

 

I did what Picus suggested yesterday. Went to a Coin-Op Touch Free wash, and hosed the badboy down myself. I didn't dry the car though...it was too cold and I forgot to bring my microfibers. I got all the salt off, but now I have some water spots. It's still much better looking than before though. If I had a chance to dry the car off while it was still wet and before some of the water beads froze, it would have come out perfectly.

 

yeah i guess i'll do that, but i'm a bit afraid of drying the car with my MF's considering i'm merely getting the salt off and not really giving it a good cleaning....i will probably then be pushing around crud on the car with the towels--thus scratching the paint

 

Don't dry it if you don't want it; the way I do it I just spray the salt off and drive away. The only time you want to dry is if you do a real wash.

Another option, as mentioned, is ONR. I love the stuff, but if you don't have a garage it's still tough washing in the cold.

 

you can wash it if it's above freezing... even if you did wash it
below freezing temps (although i dont recommend it) as long as you
wipe down the door glass and around the seals and jams you should
be okay.

the seal or window motor can get damaged if your glass freezes
onto the door seal.