what is your winter wash routine like? i'm in connecticut, and washing outside in the driveway is just not an option.

 

Merlin,

Where are you in CT, I'm from there as well. I always try to get a few quality washes outside during the winter. Other than that I use ONR (Optimum No Rinse), this will allow you to wash inside.

Video demonstration via Google video (this is not me):
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I'm in Hamden...right near New haven

 

The only thing I am not sure on ONR is the effect you get when you have a lot of salt or sand from driving in the snowy roads. I am much more comfortable spraying off this residue with water than wiping it off with a towel.

 

You would create a ton of marring and swirls if you just spray and wipe dry. The reason being is that there will be remaining dirt on your paint that you're just rubbing around on your paint as you're drying. ONR creates lubricity that will lift the dirt away rather than rubbing it in. You can do a pre-soak before using the general ONR technique. For example, I have ONR in a spray bottle that I mist over the whole car to loosen the dirt before washing.

 

I can't speak highly enough about ONR. It used to be my "don't have enough time for full wash" or winter wash solution, but now its turned into my weekly staple.

Definitely the best option for winters, especially in Conneticut I would imagine. I can't speak for the salt, but Don's above recommendation sounds like the call for sure. I'll let it soak on certain areas that get gritty on my car before washing(no salt here but sometimes mud or other contaminants that stick) and it works like a charm.

 

I love ONR but agree it would be better to wash the sand/salt off before using it.

 

+10000000 on ONR....

 

For salt/grime, I fill a bug sprayer with QD strength ONR and use it as a pre soak. If you pump it enough, you can get a decent amount of pressure built up to blast off some of the larger particles.

 

I usually take it to the spray wash down the street. Get all the grit and salt off. Then drive it home, turn the garage heater on and use the ONR.

 

I just use a hand sprayer. Tires the hand, but works to presoak the salt. I have a black coupe and I have to say that using the two bucket method with QEW, which is the less expensive brand, has induced no marring at all. It really is amazing how easy and effective it is.

 

Big advantage of QEW over ONR is that QEW will release dirt from your wash media, while ONR has a hard time with that.

 

My winter washing typically consists of taking my G to the coin-op to rinse all the salt, sand, and crud off. Then when I am home I use QEW.