Winter can do a number on your vehicle, and it's important to take care of your ride throughout the season. But should you wash your car in cold weather? And if so, how can you do it safely and efficiently? Learn everything you need to know about washing your car in winter with this guide.
How Often Should You Wash Your Car in Winter?
While there’s no right-or-wrong schedule for washing your car in the winter, some experts suggest doing it every two weeks. If your vehicle continues to get particularly grimy, you might want to wash it even more often in the winter.
However, it’s especially important to wash your car thoroughly after snow and ice melts. This way, you can avoid the accumulation of salt, sand, soil, and ice, reducing the likelihood of corrosion. Rust damage costs motorists about $3 billion in damage each year, so you want to make sure your car’s exterior is adequately protected before and during winter weather.
When Should You Wash Your Car in Winter?
You may want to avoid washing your car if the outside temperature is at or below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit). Shoot for doing a car wash in cold temperatures when the thermometer shows a reading of at least 49 degrees. Ideally, though, the temperature should be between 50 and 89 degrees. Whatever the temperature is, try to wash your car in the afternoon, when the sun is at its warmest point of the day.
How Do You Wash Your Car in Winter?
Keeping your car clean in the winter is not much different than cleaning it during any other season. However, there are a few extra precautionary measures you may want to take. Here are some of the steps that we recommend taking when washing your car in the winter:
1. Use a cleaning solution designed for vehicles.
When washing your car in winter, and otherwise, it's best to avoid the detergent you use to wash your dishes. The enzymes found in dish soaps can eat away at the wax on your vehicle.
2. Wash the exterior completely.
To thoroughly wash the exterior of your vehicle, make sure to clean the tires, wheels, undercarriage, fenders, and bumpers. Prioritizing each component can help prevent salt and debris buildup.
3. Wax the exterior.
Be sure to follow the automaker’s instructions for waxing your vehicle. In some cases, you might want to wax your car every two months. In other cases, every six months might do the trick. How often you wax your vehicle depends, in large part, on how harsh the weather is where you live. Keep in mind that wax might be tough to apply when the temperature is below 55 degrees.
4. Use the right products.
If you decide to do a DIY car wash, be sure you’ve got the right products to do the job. These include a vehicle-specific cleaning solution, two buckets (one for warm water and the other for cleaning solution), a water hose, a sponge or washing mitt, and microfiber towels for drying your car.
5. Wash one section at a time.
When you’re cleaning your car at home, wash one section at a time, being sure to rinse off the cleaning solution before moving on to the next section.
6. Don’t overlook the interior.
To keep winter grime to a minimum inside your car, be sure to vacuum the carpets and floor mats. Then, tackle other interior cleaning. While you’re at it, you might want to get things organized inside your car.
Tips for Safely Washing Your Car in Winter
Follow these three tips to safely wash your car in the winter:
- If you’re doing a DIY wash, try to do it inside a heated garage. This can shield you and your car from winter temperatures and precipitation. In addition, this can keep your driveway from getting wet and freezing over.
- When washing your car outdoors, bundle up to protect yourself from cold weather. Your clothing and gear should be waterproof.
- To steer clear of difficulties with a DIY at-home wash, consider a public car wash or take advantage of a car-washing service.
Washing your car should be just one component of your winter car care routine, including checking your battery and tires. You can make an appointment at your neighborhood Firestone Complete Auto Care to help ensure your car is ready for winter weather.
FAQs
One of the best methods I recommend during the winter is using a waterless car wash product. The benefit of these products is they have a lower freezing temperature than water. Second, you can work on one section at a time. Simply spray onto the surface or a microfiber towel and wipe down the surface.
What temperature is too cold to wash a car? ›
You may want to avoid washing your car if the outside temperature is at or below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit). Shoot for doing a car wash in cold temperatures when the thermometer shows a reading of at least 49 degrees. Ideally, though, the temperature should be between 50 and 89 degrees.
Can I wash my car with snow and ice on it? ›
When possible, avoid washing your vehicle in freezing weather, but if it is unavoidable, try driving your car around for a few minutes with the heater on before cleaning, remove excess snow and build-up before washing, or even pull your car into a warm garage to help prevent freezing while driving.
How to wash the undercarriage of a car during winter? ›
Grab your garden hose or pressure washer as a way to apply water to your car. There are specialized pressure washer attachments that will allow you to reach under your car more easily. Once you have pre-rinsed your car, add a specialized undercarriage wash solution to the water stream.
How to wash car windows in freezing weather? ›
Simply mix one part alcohol, to part water, and a few drops of dishwashing liquid and you're good to go! Of course, scale the amount of solution you make to the number of windows you're cleaning. Spray it onto your windows or use a sponge. Alcohol will keep the water from freezing while you clean.
How often should I wash my car in winter salt? ›
Plus, it can cover headlights, taillights, and the sensors for automatic emergency braking. To combat the potential ill-effects of salt, Consumer Reports' experts advise a monthly car wash during snow season—or more often if coated in salt.
When shouldn't you wash your car? ›
How cold is too cold for a car wash? Skip the wash if the temperature outside is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Water that hits your car when the air is too cold (like below freezing) could lead to frozen locks and door handles. It's important to let your car dry thoroughly so water doesn't get stuck and freeze.
Should I wash my car if it's going to rain? ›
There is no right or wrong answer to this. It's simply what you want to spend your time and energy on. If you don't think it's going to be worth your time to wash your car, don't do it. If you want to maintain your vehicle at a high level-even though it's going to rain- then do that, too.
Can you wash your car too much? ›
Let us put your fears to rest. While washing your car improperly can damage it, cleaning it as often as you'd like won't hurt your vehicle, even if you do it every week. Keep in mind, however, that if you wax your car, you may need to reapply that wax after each wash, depending on how well it holds up.
How do you clean an icy car? ›
Use a De-Icer Spray
Mix three parts vinegar and one part water or two parts rubbing alcohol and one part water in a spray bottle. Turn on your car so the defroster can start warming up the inside of the vehicle. Spray your windshield with the solution and wait 15 to 30 seconds while the ice softens and melts.
In addition to blocking visibility, not removing snow or ice from your vehicle can lead to the snow being dislodged during transit. If it isn't evident how this can be dangerous, snow or ice being dislodged could cause property damage to other vehicles and even injure other motorists or pedestrians.
Can I pour hot water on snow on car? ›
If shoveling is not working, another approach is to melt the snow and ice around the tires. Do not use hot or boiling water as the extreme temperature change could result in tire damage. The hot water can also refreeze, causing the vehicle to get even more stuck.
How do you wash car when it's freezing? ›
Tips for Washing Your Car in Winter
- Step 1 – Wear Latex Gloves and Waterproof Insulated Gloves. ...
- Step 2 – Only Wash the Vehicle in Direct Sunlight. ...
- Step 3 – Use Hot to Warm Water – ALWAYS. ...
- Step 4 – Let Your Car Warm Up First. ...
- Step 5 – Use a High-Pressure Water Hose. ...
- Step 6 – Work Quickly and One Panel at a Time.
Use an under-spray salt / brine-neutralizer:
Just washing your car isn't enough—you have to get the undercarriage clean. Choose a drive-through car wash or a hand wash that sprays under the vehicle.
Should you wash the underside of your car? ›
Experts recommend an undercarriage wash at least once a year, and it is safe to wash your car once per season. Washing your undercarriage is entirely safe and will benefit your car overall.
Is it OK to wash car in garage? ›
You can wash your car inside your garage safely if you avoid using high-pressure water tools such as hose attachments. The most effective car wash is the two-bucket car wash.
Should you put a wet car in the garage? ›
Reasons to Get Your Car Out of Your Garage
Putting a wet car away in a sealed garage means the moisture will remain on the vehicle for much longer. So the chances of rust developing is much higher. When you drive your car in the wet, water and dirt from the road sprays up onto the underside of the car.
Do you wash a car in hot or cold water? ›
While cold water excels in many cleaning tasks, it may struggle to remove heavy grease and oil stains effectively. Hot water is more suitable for such tough stains due to its grease-dissolving capabilities.
Should I detail my car before winter? ›
Prevent Damage
The abrasive nature of road salt erodes protective coatings. As the salt reaches the metal layer it exposes it to moisture which results in rust if not treated quickly. Winter car detailing gets ahead of the damage to your paint with fresh protective coatings and waxes.
