Well finally a good day to wash car. Got 5 inches of snow 1-2 weeks ago and it was a freakish 55 yesterday so a TON of it melted. Today it's a high of 30 which is good since there's no more melted snow to be flung up at my car. Decided to wash it then. I put in $5 and went to work. Sprayed it and it looked great. Went and ran some errands and took it home and it looked like ****. I forgot in the winter, as much as I really really hate it, I have to use the brush and give the car a good scrub down. All the white dirt marks came back after it dried off. My last car it was fine but this one it really shows since it's black. It looks a lot better but definitely pisses me off that I spent $5 and it still looks dirty on the sides like that. Sucky that I just got this car a month ago right as the winter junk has started. Still have another 25 inches of snow to go for this season too (seasonal average)

 

For the winter the main thing is to just get the salt off the car. I try to get mine washed at least every other week. I always get the wash that has the underbody sprayers to rinse the undercarriage off. It is annoying leaving the wash and being dirty by the time you get home though!

 

As you found out, simply spraying a car doesn't do much. I'd suggest using a MF/cotton/sheepskin mitt/pad and the 2-bucket method. Scroll down to see some examples:

http://www.autogeek.net/washing.html

While you're there, have a look at the car washing tutorial. Your black paint will thank you.

Edit: Here is a link:

http://www.autogeek.net/exterior.html

 

Sorry. Love my car but no way in hell am I going to hand wash this when winter temps get as low as -10 (last week). Spending that much time washing it in a snow filled environment is sort of pointless. It's dirty as soon as I get home. I'm just trying to get the major stuff off, which I didn't with just hand sprayer.

 

Now I'm glad that I took the time to look for and post those links in hopes of helping you. Your appreciation is self-evident.

You may be better-off not washing it at all. By introducing a water spray to the surface salt, you're allowing it to make its way into all crevices easier that it would have otherwise. You're probably causing more damage to the paint by scraping the salt against its surface with the spray, too, in lieu of just leaving it alone. Just wait until you see the black paint under direct sunlight. Regardless, once the car subjected to prolonged exposure to salt, it's fuvcked. The paint is the least of your worries. Ask me how I know.

 

I'm in the same boat as you but please don't use the brush on your car unless you wanna destroy the paint. I simply go to the self serve booths and rinse the car, including wheel wells and the underside. I then go through the touchless car was and wash the underside again and then I just let the machine wash and dry the paint.

 

*edit* double post. Also if you wash your car the way I do it gets pretty clean. I must say, the method I use pretty much gets all the dirt and salt off. I also have a dark colored car and I usually find 1 or 2 spots that are dirty and they're tiny.

 

*edit* wow triple post. My blackberry is being stupid.

 

i haven't washed my car for 2 month now, my car is so dirty, good thing they don't use salt here. tomorrow is gonna be upper 40's, finally get to wash my car!

 

working at a car wash is a nice perk as i get a free wash every week, the dirt could be from the door jams and trunk? i see that sometimes when its really dirty a car will come back because that dirt seeps out from under those spots after its dried.

 

This is exactly why I wipe down those areas after washing my car. It also goes along with paying attention to the small details.

 

The wipe down I take care of in my heated garage. Car wash is a block away from my house.

 

You might want to visit a full service wash. Pay extra to have them prep it well before it goes through the tunnel and get the undercarraige!

Plus, they do all the wiping! Touchless washes cannot get off the grime layer that even the best chemicals can't eliminate! The paint has to be wiped down!

 

i just bring a bucket to the do-it-yourself wash. maybe a clay bar sometimes. it's nice the wash here in brooklyn park, mn is only $1 and 50 cent tuesdays. also finish up witha trip through a touchless then a spra and wipe with a quick detailer spray when you get home.

also it does suck all the full service places around here don'thave touchless so i won't go there

 

i usually wait for a warm enough day so i can take my time but i will use the brush but i will take about a min of cleaning it off first to all the crap is off of it and do a decent was nothing crazy tho than if its not to packed at the wash ill had dry it there