Hi,
My husband says (a number of times)... car needs washing, it's covered with salt. So I go wash it. Then he says... I shouldn't have washed it cause it's too cold. (teens)

(Now he tells me... I did it by hand so I wouldn't scratch the paint. Brrrrrrrrr )

Why is it bad to wash the car if it's cold out?

 

when you wash with water, the water can get into all those little nooks and such ...
when its cold out the water will freeze. we all know that when water freezes and becomes ice it expands. (thats the reason we get potholes in the roads too...)

now this expanding ice could be pushing against a weld, fender, glass....weakining the structure of the car.

now i admit this is an extreme case...

so on the realistic side of effects. the water could get on the seals for the doors and freeze them shut..

 

For cold weather washingI use a product called Quick and Easy Wash, it can be found at most RV and camping stores I think. It is GREAT for cold weather, all you need is 1 GALLON of water to wash the whole car, and but of all, you don't have to rinse so you use less water, less time your hands are in the water. All you do is wash with the QEW and dry the car off. It works great

 

During the winter I just spray off the salt when the temprature gets above freezing.

Salt will cause early rusting of cars.

Try not to get two much on the door windows or the water gets in the door and freezes the locks, etc.

 

if youre worried about the doors freezing shut, put a light coating of silicone spray on the door jambs, they wont freeze.

 

if youre worried about the doors freezing shut, put a light coating of silicone spray on the door jambs, they wont freeze.

 

silicone is your friend

 

lol, my windows froze shut.