Washing your car in winter: The best tips and products

Opinions differ when it comes to washing your car in winter: Is it even worth it and how does the car wash properly in sub-zero temperatures? We answer the most important questions and give tips to ensure that your winter laundry is a success!

How often should I take my car through the car wash in winter?

The answer is simple: as often as usual. Because at least from a road safety perspective, you don’t have to wash your car more often than in the summer months! According to the ADAC, “it is undisputed that in bad weather a clean car can be seen better and, above all, in a timely manner than its dirty counterpart thanks to its shiny light reflections.” But since the introduction of daytime running lights for cars, which have been mandatory in new cars since 2011 (the EU currently requires these driving assistance systems), this advantage is no longer so crucial, according to the experts at the automobile club.
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Tips against moisture in the car in the video:

Is it even worth washing your car in winter?

Clearly: yes. Even if many drivers think: “Washing in the winter is no use anyway because the car will get dirty again anyway,” from a value preservation perspective, it is absolutely recommended to clean the outside of the car regularly, even in winter. The mix of moisture and salt fights the paint and promotes the formation of rust. Modern cars are now better protected against rust by cavity sealing (how cavity sealing works and which products are suitable for this, here), underbody protection and partial galvanizing. However, road salt is still poison for metal today, especially for young and vintage cars, but also for new cars: Paintwork with scratches and existing stone chip damage is particularly at risk.

In addition, the function of sensors and cameras in driving assistance systems is impaired by dirt that accumulates on them. Headlights and taillights also lose a lot of their radiance due to a crust of dirt (this is how the car’s headlights are adjusted correctly). This can be easily remedied with the right cleaner and suitable tools.

How often the car should be washed ultimately depends on how severe the winter is and how often it is gritted. Doing laundry in the self-service laundry box is not exactly fun in winter temperatures. The underbody washing, which is particularly important in winter, cannot be carried out there. For this reason, most car owners prefer to use a car wash or street car wash. As a rule of thumb, especially for owners of older cars, experts recommend driving through the car wash at regular intervals, ideally every 14 days. This is certainly possible and advisable even in winter. Low temperatures below zero are usually not a problem. Things will be tricky once the temperature reaches a certain point below zero.

When should you avoid washing your car altogether in winter?

To answer this question, all you need to do is take a look at the thermometer: When extreme temperatures plummet and fall below -10 °C, you should refrain from washing your car that day. Because when temperatures fall below this limit, washing your car usually does more harm than good. The reason for this: the extreme temperature differences between the vehicle body, the attached parts and the warm washing water.

It becomes particularly tricky when most of the water from the car wash, which is between ten and 30 °C, hits vehicle parts that were recently exposed to sub-zero temperatures. This puts extreme strain on the paint or the rubber and plastic parts of the vehicle. It is therefore important to avoid this temperature shock. In particular, previously damaged or repainted body surfaces and add-on parts suffer greatly in the medium term (so that the car is protected by additional paint sealing).

Six tips for washing your car in winter

If you are not in such extreme temperature differences, a few simple tips will help ensure that the car wash is guaranteed to be a success. Here are our “Six Commandments” for cleaning your vehicle in winter.

Tip 1: Close doors and windows!

How the car is prepared matters most In large letters and pictures explained at the entrance to the car wash or facility. Even if things get hectic on site or you’re in a hurry: don’t forget to close the windows and sunroof and turn off the windshield wipers and the rain sensor! (so change the windshield wipers yourself)

Tip 2: Remove snow and ice

Very important: Be sure to remove all remaining snow and ice from the car before entering the car wash. The best way to do this is with a high-pressure cleaner (our overview of the best high-pressure cleaners for the home), which is offered at almost every car wash and may have to be “fed” with a few coins before the actual car wash. The search for change can sometimes be nervous, but it has to be done. The system’s brushes pull such chunks of ice and frozen and compacted snow lumps over the paint like sandpaper. If they come loose, there is a risk of deep scratches! In the worst case scenario, the car will then be unrecognizable, in a negative sense.

Tip 3: Tape off locks

Although a car wash is not a paint line, covering door locks with waterproof tape is an essential step in preparing the car for washing. This is the only way to ensure that the locks do not ice up due to freezing washing water in temperatures below zero.

Tip 4: Grease seals

Freeze protection, the second: Door seals are best treated with silicone or milk grease or another suitable agent before washing in winter (the best products for caring for seals). This ensures that the doors do not freeze and can continue to be opened in a relaxed manner, without force and without excessive force.

Tip 5: Choose the right program

It’s best to choose laundry with active foam. This is particularly good at removing stubborn dirt from the car. Washing the underbody is particularly recommended in winter to remove stuck-on dirt and road salt. However, according to experts, you can easily do without special wax programs such as nano sealing or shine protection sealing.

Tip 6: Find the right place to dry

Once the wash cycle has been completed, it is advisable to park the car in a place where it can dry in peace. Ideally, after washing, you should drive to a garage so that the car can dry gently and frost-free (this is how you protect the garage floor with a coating).

What else should you consider when washing your car in winter?

Anyone who has heeded the tips mentioned above will generally have a good chance of getting through the winter with their car without frost or paint damage. However, there are a few other points to consider, some of which are safety-related.

What special features need to be taken into account when it comes to headlights and windows?

Headlights and vehicle windows dirty due to winter mud require special attention. They should be kept as free of dirt as possible. In the interests of your own safety and that of others. Especially if the roads have been intensively gritted beforehand, headlights “go blind” very quickly due to the salt brine adhering to them. It is therefore advisable to regularly remove dirt from windows, headlights and indicators. This is usually necessary at a faster pace than regular car washing. This can happen at the gas station – when temperatures are below zero or around freezing point, buckets and mopping devices are often found inside the gas station – or at home.

What do I have to pay attention to when caring for my car at home?

You can also clean the windshield wipers or the interior in your own garage at home using your own cleaning materials. However, it should be noted that washing outside on private property is prohibited in most cities and municipalities, even in winter, for environmental reasons. Anyone who ignores the relevant regulations faces severe fines (this is what the current catalog of bus fines provides for). If in doubt, you can ask the citizens’ office or call the city administration to get clarity on this matter.