Now that winter is setting in, I want to be able to remove the salt build up from my car when the temps get above freezing. Using the high pressure hose in the good ol' manual fashion can be a pain when in work clothes and can eat up a lot of money.

That said, does anyone have an thoughts on brushless car washes? I want to avoid brush car washes as to not put swirls in the paint.

Thanks,
Mike

 

Try premoistened wipes

 

Generally, brushless washes are OK. An expection to that is when they used recycled water. Check first. Although probably better for the environment, it can contain contaminants that can scratch. I personally use an automated wash in the winter, because it is better than leaving the salt on the car - but I'm picky about where I go, and I never use one in the warmer weather, prefering to wash by hand.

 

WSJ online reporting that...

 

My TCH was only handwashed once in the year that I owned it. I found a new automatic touchless wash at a self-service car wash across town. $10 for the works, undercarriage flush, pre-soak, high pressure wash, polish, spot free rinse, and blow dry.

It did a great job, and after a year's time, the finish looked and felt better than the cars that I would hand wash once a week, and clay bar and wax twice a year. I used that carwash every 2 to 4 weeks.

With the Highlander Hybrid I picked up this weekend, I plan the same treatment for it. Especially since there's so much more to wash, and the roof is not easily reachable.

 

And rub the dirt and grit right into the clearcoat? No way!

 

Absolutely agree. There are however car washes that you can go to and wash your car by hand. The waste water is properly managed.

 

I find the "spot free rinse" leaves a horrible coating on the glass that is very tough to get off. (At least the place I go to wash by "hand".) I don't use it anymore.

 

Not to start a argument, but lets just forget about all the salt they dump on the roads in the north east...I am sure that does FAR more damage than MQ's car soap and road grim.

Honestly, I think it is being targeted because it is an "easy" target. I don't like to pollute but seriously, there are FAR WORSE things going on. Heck, the power plant in my area is polluting at 125% of the NY state average. Why aren't they cracked down on?

 

Agreed. However, there are things within my direct control - and that's one of them, so regardless of whether industry is being properly regulated, I still can choose to do what I can. Note that this is a choice I'd make even if it wasn't a law (or by-law).