# How quickly should a car be washed after driving on salt treated roads? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 19, 2025, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502 "2025-02-19T13:08:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/1 "2025-02-19T13:08:11Z")
Little Rock treated our roads heavily before yesterdays snow and ice storm. They’ll retreat the roads for the next couple days. I watch car repair channels on YouTube. It’s shocking to see a rusted car frame and body damage on a 5 to 7 year old car. We drive almost rust free cars for 15 or more years in the South. My old van is a Ford 2000 econoline and still rust free. That’s because we only drive on salt treated roads two or three times a winter. I have to protect my investment[. A new car average cost is almost 50k.](https://www.financialsamurai.com/average-new-car-price/) I plan to warm my garage with a Torpedo heater. Then wipe down the car’s fenders and lower body panels with a sponge and bucket of warm soapy water. Then rinse throughly with fresh warm water. Can I wait 3 or 4 days or do it immediately after getting home? How quickly should a car be throughly washed after driving on salted treated roads? I know at some point I have to go to a car wash and spray inside the fenders and under the car. A high pressure wand will reach the frame. I don’t want to do that until the weather warms into the 50’s. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/2 "2025-02-19T13:11:07Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > How quickly should a car be washed after driving on salted treated roads? As soon as it is convenient to do so. A day or two isn’t a big deal, but leaving it for weeks is probably not a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/3 "2025-02-19T13:14:10Z")
My approach is to leave it outside eventually on some day that it is forecast to rain! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/4 "2025-02-19T13:18:09Z")
I’ve lived in snowy areas for 27 years and have never worried about salt on my car. What cars are these that are rusting after 5-7 years? Sounds like a flashback to the 1980s. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/5 "2025-02-19T13:20:55Z")
I understand people in the North drive on treated roads daily for several months. It’s not practical to wash away the salt several times a week. I’m thankful that my cars rarely drive on treated roads. They have gotten much more aggressive in treating roads in Little Rock. They have more trucks and supplies on hand compared to 30 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/6 "2025-02-19T13:28:29Z")
South Main Auto channel is in New York state. He typical works on Cars made after 2012. Unless it’s a Southern car that was purchased and relocated in New York. A Youtube short showing a rotted 2014 Subaru Outback frame that he replaced. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WOf91EL9znE/maxresdefault.jpg "Let's Clear Some Stuff Up About The Subaru Subframe...😐") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOf91EL9znE) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WOf91EL9znE/maxresdefault.jpg "Let's Clear Some Stuff Up About The Subaru Subframe...😐") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOf91EL9znE) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/7 "2025-02-19T13:30:23Z")
Sorry for the double link. Can’t edit when there’s a youtube link. South Main had posted two long videos on the Subaru sub-frame replacement. Viewers questioned if it was worth it. But ultimately that’s the owner’s decision. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/8 "2025-02-19T13:30:58Z")
We had snow last week, but bitterly cold weather moved in, so I didn’t wash my car because the cold pretty much puts a halt to any erosion from the salt on my car. It is going to get above freezing by Saturday, so Saturday I will get a total wash and wax. That’s my methodology at least. Seems to have worked well for me. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/9 "2025-02-19T13:34:15Z")
That sounds reasonable. I wouldn’t spend the money for a wash and wax until it warms up. I don’t mind washing my cars. But waxing hurts my shoulders. I’ll plan to take mine in for detailing and waxing in a few weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/10 "2025-02-19T13:37:10Z")
I generally do not wash my car all winter unless there is a prolonged warm spell. I have no garage and parking in this kind of weather with freezing temperatures and regular snow will just mess up my ingress and egress. Additionally the nearest drive through car wash is about a half hour away. So - maybe once or twice per winter season if I am lucky. My car is not rusting (2013 Chevy) but it’s getting a bit long in the tooth. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/11 "2025-02-19T13:41:12Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > My car is not rusting (2013 Chevy) but it’s getting a bit long in the tooth. I drove my last truck, a 2003 or 2004 F150, until spring of 2019, so it was a good 15 years old at least, and that’s 15 years of Ottawa winters, and Ottawa is notorious for using a lot of salt, and it had no rust when I traded it in. So I think these fears about salt rusting things is a bit overblown. My first truck had some rust issues, but that was because I scratched the shit out of that fender once. The rest of the truck was fine. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/12 "2025-02-19T13:56:31Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > So I think these fears about salt rusting things is a bit overblown. Yeah - my understanding (which may well be wrong) was that this was much ore of an issue back in the day - say pre-2000. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/13 "2025-02-19T14:01:19Z")
Spring, for me. Right now it’s 6 degrees F. Not washing anything whatsover. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/14 "2025-02-19T14:13:10Z")
Like others I have drove plenty of vehicles in snow/salt conditions and just wash them in the Spring. The cars eventually die from plenty of other things besides rust. Cars are built so much better these days it’s not much of a concern. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/15 "2025-02-19T14:27:14Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > How quickly should a car be throughly washed after driving on salted treated roads? A brine bath speeds the rusting process, but once it dries off - even if the salt crust is still there - the rust reaction happens a lot more slowly, since the only moisture available at that point is ambient humidity. So if you’re not going to rinse the whole car in fresh water immediately after parking it, then waiting a few days won’t matter much. If you drive it day after day on briny roads (such is life up here in the Rust Belt), then your car spends a lot of time actually being wet with salt water, and you’ll get more rust over time than if you just drove it once on briny roads and then parked it until spring. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/16 "2025-02-19T14:32:46Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I understand people in the North drive on treated roads daily for several months. It’s not practical to wash away the salt several times a week. Yup. Actually I have read that doing a car wash frequently when it is freezing is actually worse for the car. But mostly we don’t bother. It’s just gonna get covered in salt again very soon. My current car is actually fairly new. It had been covered in salt, as was my wife’s car, and we had a warm day when I was off, so I got it washed. Silly boy. Next day it rained and my wife’s car looked as good as mine. Rust has never been the limiting item in any car I’ve owned. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/17 "2025-02-19T14:44:57Z")
I’m more nervous now that I retired. I don’t want another car loan to pay off. I’m finally debt free. Our car is a 2022 model and hopefully it will be our last big ticket purchase. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/18 "2025-02-19T15:08:15Z")
I live in MN. We drive for months and months on salty roads. Sometimes it just isn’t feasible to wash the car every week or so. If we have subzero temps, the car washes are closed. We’ve had those kind of temps now for weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/19 "2025-02-19T15:20:03Z")
I never wash the car in winter time. Which for me is about five months. The only rust I’ve had was on a mid-80s Blazer. A car buddy of mine told me that model run was notorious for rusting because of the quality of steel GM used on it. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502/20 "2025-02-19T17:16:18Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Our car is a 2022 model and hopefully it will be our last big ticket purchase. Will you still be driving in 2042? If so, let us know then whether your car has any sign of rust yet. Between now and then? Fuggeddaboudit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-quickly-should-a-car-be-washed-after-driving-on-salt-treated-roads/1014502.md?page=2)