Washing your car in winter - any point?

[bennyboydurham]

I took the barge along to the local friendly chaps of indeterminate immigration status for its monthly wash and vac the day before yesterday and it came back sparkling. After 48 hours I might as well have saved the cash.....



Is there any point? I know that the salt isn't good for the paintwork but I can't help thinking I'm wasting the money.
How often do you wash your P&J at this time of year?

[Deerfoot]

Monthly too at this time of year, although I did take it to a jet-wash to do the underside post the snow.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

You need to keep your nice car under a cover or in a garage plugged into a battery conditioner when there's all this salt around, and drive a snotter like I do. Simples!

[belleair302]

I snowfoam my car each week, unless it is raining then wash with two bucket method, blow dry with leaf blower and then a quick once over with a waffle weave. Start to finish in this weather an hour bt well worth the effort and you can wash your car in sub zero temperatures, just be careful of the windchill and the temperature of the car surface.

[Oldandslow]

I give my daily hack a rough underside wash with the hose every so often just to rinse off the worst of the salt. Not much point getting it shiny and clean as one drive to work later and it's as dirty as before.

[gj88]

Just washed mine although I've probably wasted my time, I need to drive later tonight.

[r1ch]

I went through a detailing sort of stage where i'd wash my car every sunday, even in the rain :/

I do wash my car in the winter, for 30 minutes its nice to see it stand out amongst lots of dirty cars. Is it worth it, probably not.

[HellDiver]

Lights, windows, plates. Everything else stays in ste till the spring.

[wackojacko]

HellDiver said:

Lights, windows, plates. Everything else stays in ste till the spring.

+1 They're the only things worth doing .... anything else is just a waste of time.

[martin vr6]

There is yes but TBH I can't be arsed, my car gets put to the valet guy every saturday morning and I will just pressure wash my van once a week

[Kentish]

There are quite a few threads on here where a staggeringly large amount of people (who I would assume value theirs cars) who happily take it to a car wash.

I watched my local park brite lads washing cars yesterday - the water was like mud and the final wipe over with a cloth was done with a grubby looking cloth that they repeatedly dropped on the ground and picked straight up and continued to wipe down the paintwork with.

As to whether you should wash a car in winter - I say yes.

It is more important to wash it at this time of year than any other.

Don't forget to power wash underneath and around those wheel arches too.

[sebhaque]

I may be a bit nerdy here but I wash the Scoob regardless of weather conditions as it's a sort-of treat for the car - puts a smile on my face every time I drive it so I can't see any harm in keeping it looking nice as well. Never know when it'll go on the pull, find a nice Evo and spawn some baby Justys/Colts

I have drunk FAR too much tonight to be able to post that.

[g3org3y]

I try to do a big 'proper' wash and clean just before the cold sets in with a good coat of Auto Glym Extra Gloss as protection. Once that's in place, much easier to clean afterwards.

White has been an absolute bd to keep clean in these recent months!

[milu]

Sounds like my neighbours.
No point washing the car it'll only get dirty again. Yeah your right,just like your boxer shorts and your clothes and your house. Things get dirty then they cleaning!!
It's just an excuse for lazy Gits!!

[hooperpride]

My car will get washed when I can be arsed to do it, so not for a good while.

It is a banger though and in many ways it looks better covered in dirt and mud than it does clean.

[muffinmenace]

I got some lovley chaps to give me a good going over. I was so impressed I took some snaps and for a drive. Then it fking snowed. bd.

[kellys hero]

My car was pretty much left on the drive for 3 weeks whilst we had rain, frost then 3 inches of snow, but had to use it to visit a client last week so gave it a good clean off. Two trips to Bideford saw it looking like it had gone through a field, so washed off the next day.

Took it 6 miles yesterday and friendly Landrover and trailer hit the only puddle in the road and covered the RH side with mud. So I will be back out in the next half an hour washing it through this mornings frost.

Wish I did not care about my car

[Westy Pre-Lit]

muffinmenace said:

I got some lovley chaps to give me a good going over.

Probably best to keep that to yourself tbh.

Edited by Westy Pre-Lit on Sunday 31st January 10:09

[rsmithinfo]

You should in theory wash your car more in the winter - all of the crap on the roads (especially salt) is harsh on the cars body work and wheels. If you only do a headlight and number plate wash then the salt sits there potentially for 2-3 months just eating away at whatever it can find.

If it's a beater car that you're not bothered about that's another thing but your P&J? Needs washing!

[jazzybee]

I look for gaps in the weather on Accuweather. If there is no rain forcast for the next 5-6 days and the car has not been washed for more than a week, then I take it for a clean. The MX5 however has not been used that much recently, spending much of the time under a cover, so has not been cleaned since November I think. Usually both cars get washed every 1-2 weeks