Salt or car wash?

[Sunder92]

So, I live in Michigan and for anyone that lives around here, you know how bad our winters are. Lots of ice, snow and salt.

I'm just curious, which is more harmful to the car? Going through a car wash or leaving salt on your car for a extended period of time?

[HateSwirls]

I think it would be in the best interest to take it to a coin car wash but only using the wand , no brushes.

[Just02896]

Providing you don't have any bare metal, the car wash with brushes will do much more harm. A touchless car wash would be a much better choice.

[SYMAWD]

The salt is more harmful in the long term so I would just go through a touchless car wash or a coin op where you can power wash most of it off and then wash at home.

[c8n]

Car wash is more harmful in my opinion as most of us will have a nice coat of wax/sealant on their car to protect the finish from the salt. However, nothing is going to protect the finish from the debris and dirt thats on the brushes and towels that the car washes use.

[SYMAWD]

Car wash is more harmful in my opinion as most of us will have a nice coat of wax/sealant on their car to protect the finish from the salt. However, nothing is going to protect the finish from the debris and dirt thats on the brushes and towels that the car washes use.

Do you wax and seal under you car? That's the area that will be most affected.

[allenk4]

I am convince that there is something in the "High Pressure Foam" at my coin-op that eats LSP's; including my Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant.

[Sunder92]

Thanks for the input, everyone. I was really tempted to just go through a carwash because my car was so dirty.

The coin operated ones are all frozen over.

I might just use my turtle wax no rinse tomorrow since it'll be 20 degrees (highest it's been in a while)

[jankerson]

I think it would be in the best interest to take it to a coin car wash but only using the wand , no brushes.

Yes, exactly.

I used to do that or touchless in the winter when I lived up north.

[Just02896]

Thanks for the input, everyone. I was really tempted to just go through a carwash because my car was so dirty.

The coin operated ones are all frozen over.

I might just use my turtle wax no rinse tomorrow since it'll be 20 degrees (highest it's been in a while)

If you car has a lot of abrasives on it (sand, salt, etc), I would strongly recommend rinsing off the heavy stuff before doing a rinse less!