Guide
Washing Road Salt Off Your Car in Winter: How Often and Why the Undercarriage Matters
Strafford County roads get salt, sand and liquid de-icer from the first storm through mud season. Here is what the general guidance says about washing it off, and how a touch-free wash with an undercarriage spray fits in.
Why road salt is worth washing off
Salt and chemical de-icers are corrosive, and the parts they reach first are the ones you never see: the underbody, brake and fuel lines, suspension hardware and the inside of the wheel wells. AAA has estimated that U.S. drivers pay about $3 billion a year in rust repairs caused by de-icing methods. Its advice: “Frequently wash your vehicle, paying particular attention to the undercarriage.”
How often should you wash your car in winter?
There is no single right number. Consumer Reports’ experts advise a monthly car wash during snow season, or more often if the vehicle is coated in salt. A practical rule for New Hampshire: wash soon after each storm once the roads have been treated and the slush has cleared, and again before a stretch of warmer, wetter weather, when salt residue is most active. AAA also recommends giving the entire vehicle and undercarriage one last cleaning in the spring.
Car wash before or after snow?
After. Washing right before a storm gets undone within a day, and the goal is to remove what the plows and de-icer trucks leave behind. The one exception is a wash before winter starts, so you are not sealing autumn grime under the first layer of salt. Because every Lilac location is open 24/7, you can wash the night a storm ends rather than waiting for a weekend queue.
Does a touchless car wash remove salt?
A touch-free wash removes loose salt and road film from the body with high-pressure water and chemistry rather than brushes. Consumer Reports’ recommendation for salt is specific: “We recommend a touchless wash that cleans your whole car, including the undercarriage.” The undercarriage part is the point. Salt that dries in the wheel wells and on the floor pan does not rinse off from a body wash alone. Our touchless car wash guide covers how the process works and what it can and cannot do for heavy, caked-on grime.
Which Lilac wash includes the undercarriage?
At Lilac Car Wash, the Ultra and Extreme packages include an undercarriage wash that sprays the underbody as you enter the bay. The Basic wash does not. In winter, pick Ultra or Extreme if you have been on salted roads; the extra cost of the undercarriage spray is small next to a corroded brake line. See the current packages on the pricing page, and find the nearest bay on the locations page. All five sites are open 24/7.
A few winter-wash habits
- Wash after a storm, once roads are treated and clear, rather than before it.
- Choose a package with an undercarriage wash when you have driven on salted roads.
- If you use a self-serve bay, spend most of the time on the wheel wells and underbody.
- Expect to wash more often during a long cold snap, when salt stays on the roads for weeks.
- Finish the season with a thorough wash in spring so residue does not sit through the summer.
Sources: AAA, Salt and Chemical De-Icers Cost Drivers $3 Billion Annually; Consumer Reports, How Often Should You Wash Road Salt Off Your Car?. This guide is general information, not a warranty. For wash results, see our Double Your Wash Back guarantee on the contact page.