Hey All,

It's my first winter for my first car, so I need some advice as far as salt removal. My Fit looks disgusting, and I can't stand to just let it sit there caked in dirt and salt crust. There's too much snow to wash it myself, and I don't want to send it through a car wash. Do you guys wipe it down with a wet towel, or will the salt crystals scratch it doing that?

I know it's going to get all nasty again as soon as I drive it back out, but I cringe every time I look at the car.

 

Before Winter even hits I always give my car a full detail. Wash, Polish, and Seal so its protected as much as possible through the winter months.

In the winter I don't ever touch my car with towels or dry it. Too many contaminant's that could possibly scratch your car.

Take it to a touchless car wash about once a week in the winter and give it a good soap and water rinse. Thats the best thing you can do. Make sure you wash under the car as well. This will help keep your under carriage in pristine condition longer.

 

Don't wipe it down. You're assumption is right. You will end up doing damage to the finish. When I lived in the salt climate (years ago in Michigan) I would run it thru a do-it-yourself car wash frequently. Luckily I don't have that problem any more.

 

pressure wash @ diy car wash places.

 

I guess I'll give the touch-less car wash a shot. I was hoping to be able to do a DIY in the parking lot, but that doesn't seem feasible. Good thing I didn't just go ahead with a wet towel!

So, no towel dry even after the car wash?

 

If you must use a waffle weave microfiber towel like this....

The Supreme Guzzler Waffle Weave Microfiber Drying Towel by Cobra is a medium size drying towel for cars, compact trucks and SUVs.

 

Take it to a pro detailer and have them put on some long lasting sealant. It will protect the clear coat/paint and make washing easier. Shouldn't be more than $100 for full exterior detail with sealant.

 

there must me a echo in this thread.

 

i bought my fit in october 2008.

i wanted to wait until spring 2009 to buy it, just to avoid winter... but i ran out of options.

so my fit was christened last winter (in new jersey).... and yes, it gets covered with salt and god knows what else. I HATED SALT ON MY NEW CAR. still do.

i washed the car myself a few times during mild periods in the winter... and when spring came the car looked good as new.

maryland has plenty of mild periods in the winter... you'll be fine if you wait for them and clean the car then. ..at least that's what i did and the car still looks good as new 1 year later.

 

keep the car outside if under freezing temps. dont cycle the snow/ice through defrosting in your garage cause it will accelerate rusting.

both my Fit's have been in salt since beginning of the month. have not washed once. but kept outdoors.

start washing the car frequently when you're in the 28-34F temps. that's corrosion at its worst. just run it through the auto-touchless wash and try to keep the salt level to a minimum. dont worry about how the car looks, you can get it cleaned up again in the spring time.

dont use any dirty towels to wipe down the car as it WILL swirl your paint.

 

On days when the roads are dry, I stop at the spray-it-yourself carwash and rinse the car clean. Don't use the "wash" setting. The "soap" is very harsh, and will strip the wax from the car. Just use the rinse cycle and spray the car down with the wand. Let the car air dry on the way home. It won't look great, but you'll keep the salt off it.