Car cleaning in the winter

[Blue Arrow]

Hi Guys!

I have a 3 Sport GT (06) and just like everyone else I love keeping it clean. Winter time I put on the Pirelli winter tires on black steelies.

The car colour is Indigo Blue and as such even the slighest amount of dust shows on it. But in the winter its really bad. I feel the urge to get a car-wash every 2 weeks but is that a good idea?

And how often do u guys clean out the interior?

My usual approach has been to do some basic cleaning through the winter and then have it detailed inside/out in the spring when my alloys go back on.

P.S - Hi Dave! It's Sid :)

[stripe]

During the winter, I use the car wash (no contact) about once every two weeks. However, I'm guilty of not cleaning the interior (myself) until the spring season. If the interior becomes too dirty, I take it to a hand wash service and ask them to clean it, inside and out.

[aris]

I just go the coin wash every time that its a nice dry day and rince some of the salt off the car...as for the interior i uslay take out the floor mats every once in a while when i am at the coin wash and spary them off. THeir is realy not much to dao during the winter months...it will jsut get dirty right away.

[mazdas3sporte]

I have a pearl white, so u can imagine how dirty it looks once a drop of dirt/salt hits it, I havent gone to a car wash in ages, I find that the do it ur self ones, the brushes are so coarse and dirty with other peoples car dirt, sand, rock inbeaded inbetwen it that it makes tiny scrathces in the paint over time, I just go to the car washes but I take my own cleaning kit so the only thing I use is the water which is like 1 or 2 dollars for I think 2 mins (someplaces its free but not around my area). I know it seems extreme but Its just what I do. Ive been to the hand wash places too but the way they wash it is slightly better , when they wash down the car with the big preasure hose they usually leave scratches near the underneath parts of the door.

, I also check the weather forcast so I kno its not snowing for at least a week so I take it in then, that week it stays clean for a week or more. for interior cleaning I Just park it in the garage and vacume it.

[Blue Arrow]

During the winter, I use the car wash (no contact) about once every two weeks. However, I'm guilty of not cleaning the interior (myself) until the spring season. If the interior becomes too dirty, I take it to a hand wash service and ask them to clean it, inside and out.

How expensive is a hand wash service? Because a lot of times I carry 2-3 people on board my car and no matter how much effort I put to clean the interior, it takes about 5minutes and 3 pairs of muddy shoes to make it dirty again :chuckle

[Flagrum_3]

Hi Guys!

I have a 3 Sport GT (06) and just like everyone else I love keeping it clean. Winter time I put on the Pirelli winter tires on black steelies.

The car colour is Indigo Blue and as such even the slighest amount of dust shows on it. But in the winter its really bad. I feel the urge to get a car-wash every 2 weeks but is that a good idea?

And how often do u guys clean out the interior?

My usual approach has been to do some basic cleaning through the winter and then have it detailed inside/out in the spring when my alloys go back on.

P.S - Hi Dave! It's Sid :)

It won't hurt to wash the vehicle even once a week aslong as it gets dried immediately, like is what you get at most No-touch carwashes...I get mine done every week when I go fill up with gas at a Shell no touch, it does an awesome job and I bring a couple of old microfibre cloths to wipe dry the door jams and seals.Once a month I take it in and get it hand washed, vacuumed with minor detailing costs around $25.

I just picked-up those nice mats off CTA Patrique they fit awesome and should cut down the mess inside drastically!! while also making it easier to clean :)


_3

[Blue Arrow]

It won't hurt to wash the vehicle even once a week aslong as it gets dried immediately, like is what you get at most No-touch carwashes...I get mine done every week when I go fill up with gas at a Shell no touch, it does an awesome job and I bring a couple of old microfibre cloths to wipe dry the door jams and seals.Once a month I take it in and get it hand washed, vacuumed with minor detailing costs around $25.

I just picked-up those nice mats off CTA Patrique they fit awesome and should cut down the mess inside drastically!! while also making it easier to clean :)


_3

I always go to my Shell car wash too. It's good but the lower half of the car always seems to remain dirty. But it's a good idea though. Just for a quick rinse. The inside...I think I need new mats.

[stripe]

How expensive is a hand wash service? Because a lot of times I carry 2-3 people on board my car and no matter how much effort I put to clean the interior, it takes about 5minutes and 3 pairs of muddy shoes to make it dirty again :chuckle

Around here (Montreal) its about 10$ (7$ exterior only). I think its worth it.

[stripe]

It won't hurt to wash the vehicle even once a week aslong as it gets dried immediately

Yep. This is why I go to the car wash right before going to work (where I park indoors for 9 hours). The car has plenty of time to dry slowly.

[Blue Arrow]

Yep. This is why I go to the car wash right before going to work (where I park indoors for 9 hours). The car has plenty of time to dry slowly.

Thats a GREAT idea. My workplace parking is outside but coming back home I can get a quick wash and let it dry all night inside my garage at home. :)

Ahh but the inside is such a major hassle. I think I'll need to get better/bigger floor mats.

[Flagrum_3]

I always go to my Shell car wash too. It's good but the lower half of the car always seems to remain dirty. But it's a good idea though. Just for a quick rinse. The inside...I think I need new mats.

The Shell wash I use has 2 High Pressure oscillating sprayers which wash the lower sides of the car as you first pull in before the actual soap/rinse! ...Does the one you use have this? It really does a nice job as some people on this site that have seen my car can attest too.

One of the main things I think is having the car properly 'prepped' for winter like a couple of coats of synthetic wax (not carnuba) on all panels and on doors jams, rockers and inner doors especially!! ...all weather stripping should be treated with a good quality rubber treatment~this will help prevent freezing the seals when washing in sub-zero temps.And a good coat of hard wax on the steelies helps too!..........just some things I do anyways.


_3

[jaimie08mazda3]

or you could be like gary and make a garage just so you can wash your car in the winter. i dont much bother washing the car in the winter. if it gets bad enough ill take it to the carwash and vaccuum it out. its just gonna get dirty anyway.

[stripe]

Thats a GREAT idea. My workplace parking is outside but coming back home I can get a quick wash and let it dry all night inside my garage at home. :)

Ahh but the inside is such a major hassle. I think I'll need to get better/bigger floor mats.

Tell me about it.. No matter how big my winter floor mats are, dirt always seems to find a way to get under them.. ahhh

[Flagrum_3]

Thats a GREAT idea. My workplace parking is outside but coming back home I can get a quick wash and let it dry all night inside my garage at home. :)

Ahh but the inside is such a major hassle. I think I'll need to get better/bigger floor mats.

Don't forget though that, wiping dry the door seals, pillars and rockers should be done immediately following the wash!!.......this step is important imo.

You should get into the next Weathertech floor mats GB if CTA Patrique plans having another one....these things cover practically all the carpeted areas and fit like a glove.Only thing you'd have to clean is the mats! They aren't cheap but looking at it long term they are worth the investment.


_3

[Blue Arrow]

Don't forget though that, wiping dry the door seals, pillars and rockers should be done immediately following the wash!!.......this step is important imo.

You should get into the next Weathertech floor mats GB if CTA Patrique plans having another one....these things cover practically all the carpeted areas and fit like a glove.Only thing you'd have to clean is the mats! They aren't cheap but looking at it long term they are worth the investment.


_3

OK I will def. keep that in mind. I'm assuming CTA Patrique is a forum member who can hook me up with some great floor mats?

[Blue Arrow]

The Shell wash I use has 2 High Pressure oscillating sprayers which wash the lower sides of the car as you first pull in before the actual soap/rinse! ...Does the one you use have this? It really does a nice job as some people on this site that have seen my car can attest too.


_3

I think it has the same feature. The weird thing is...on some days, especially in the summer-time I'll go through the car wash (Deluxe) and it does a fantastic job! But other times it looks as if the water and soap simply bounced off the car and I drive home really pissed lol. Nothign beats spending 2hrs doing a hand-wash ofcourse, but sometimes time is limited and you need to have a clean car before the evening :chuckle

[jonjon72]

I wash my car twice a week during the winter unless there is a major snow fall or rain that keeps the roads a mess.

My condo has an indoor wash that also includes the use of a vacuum. The underground lot is pretty warm (15-20 degrees) even when its -10 outside, so I can dry it up and clean up the interior as well. Add my car cleaning materials and I can easily spend an hour or two down there.

[Flagrum_3]

OK I will def. keep that in mind. I'm assuming CTA Patrique is a forum member who can hook me up with some great floor mats?

CTA Patrique is one of our sponsors you can check out the last group buy thread about the mats and the prices, but I'm not sure if and when he plans to do another GB.


_3

[Flagrum_3]

I think it has the same feature. The weird thing is...on some days, especially in the summer-time I'll go through the car wash (Deluxe) and it does a fantastic job! But other times it looks as if the water and soap simply bounced off the car and I drive home really pissed lol. Nothign beats spending 2hrs doing a hand-wash ofcourse, but sometimes time is limited and you need to have a clean car before the evening :chuckle

Well I live in a condo so I'm stuck too, I wish I could hand wash the vehicle myself but the no-touch does a good job and remember if your not satisfied with a wash you can go in and demand a re-wash....sometimes the wash is not working right and they know it.

To JonJon72; its nice to have a wash area in your parking but remember a heated garage is the worst place to park a vehicle in the winter unless you plan on thoroughly washing the vehicle everytime it picks-up salt from the roads....the heat allows the salt to activate therefore more damage (rustwise) to the car.


_3

[ZeroChalk]

Every Sunday I bring it a coin wash and spray down the car to remove any loose dirt / salt. Then I take it in to the garage and bucket wash it so it's clean for the next weekend.

[jonjon72]

Thanks for the warning Flagum. Its not really a problem, I'm pretty paranoid about keeping a clean car. White cars....what can you do. Been doing this for years (w/my other cars) and zero rust issues!

[dentinger]

in the winter, my car will be lucky to be cleaned once a month....
my buddy and i had a competetion last year to see who could go the longest without washing our cars.... i tihnk he won lol

[Blue Arrow]

I should have asked for a re-clean. Thats why right after a wash I roll into the vacuum coin-op area, hop-out and check the car to see how clean it is. Sometimes it's "very nice!" and something it's "is this a joke?".

To be honest...if the interior of my car is clean, I don't really worry about the exterior much.

[mazdathree]

I wash my car depending on the weather as its hard to keep the car clean during winter months. If the weather forecast indicates that there is dry weather for at least 3 days than I get it washed. If it happens that I dont get at least 3 days and its been a long time since I last washed my car (say 3 weeks or so), then I just take it to an automatic car wash just so that I get rid of the salt that gets accumulated on the car with time.

As for the interior, I dont clean it as often as the exterior but once in a while if its not too cold (in the plus temp) I just go to a self service clean and do it my self and if its very cold than I dont bother but just take it to a full car wash service where they also clean the interior.

[omalak]

I haven't washed mine in about 3 weeks... since we got that last big storm in toronto (well it was only like 10cm)

I think i'll stick to once a month or so on a no touch wash... just doesnt make sense to spend the cash and then have it look dirty 2 days later

[Effin Itai]

To be honest guys, the interior should be cleaned more often than the outside. What I do is line the interior with a black towel under my car mats. I tuck the edges under each side panel and it almost looks like a different carpet material. This soaks up the salt stains and extra crap you bring in with your shoes. I didn't do this the first year and now I have a few permanent salt stains that I cannot. I've removed most of it with hot water and elbow grease, but there are still a few spots. Guys my car is black, and I work in construction. There is so much mud that gets caked-on in my wheel wells and side skirts it almost looks 2-tone brown at the end of the day.

[rajin929]

^^

good idea with the towels, I have to try that as the rubber mats catch a lot but sometimes the slush and water that gets inside it a lot.

Like everyone else, I just hit the coin wash very other week or so and rinse as much salt off the car as I can and rinse out the wheel wells.

I'm not too concerned about getting the outside sparkling clean, but just to get most of the dirt off.

[007]

During the winter, I typically clean the car in and out about every 2-3 weeks.
(I have a heated garage with water and floor drains).

I just finished waxing the car, felt it needed a coat to protect the paint until spring.

I also use black bath towels to cover the whole floor. The towels absorbs any salt/water spills. Spring time, the car just look like new.

I would never go in a brush type carwash. Too afraid to scratch the paint.
Touchless is not bad, but does not provide a thorough clean job.
I would recommend professional hand wash every 3-4 weeks for those who does not have access to a garage.

[mazdas3sporte]

i like the towel idea allot! iam gonna head over to dollarama 2moro to buy a few cheap towels and use it, thanks for that!

[rajin929]

picked up a few cheap towels this weekend and put them under my floor mats and up onto the sides - hopefully it picks up what the car mats don't LOL

[Sergiomax11]

my dad was telling me that the car wash on Hwy 7 and weston clean your car during the winter. You pay 150 i beleve and you can take One car a day to wash. they give you a card and you can wash any car one time a day so if you have like 4-5 cars at your house its pretty good.

[kaval]

You guys should really do the towel thing to avoid salt stains at all costs. After detailing a few interiors this season on the Mazda3s, I've found the carpets are way too thin. It means that stains get deeper into the carpet a lot faster - making them nearly impossible to remove.

[Fobio]

You guys should really do the towel thing to avoid salt stains at all costs. After detailing a few interiors this season on the Mazda3s, I've found the carpets are way too thin. It means that stains get deeper into the carpet a lot faster - making them nearly impossible to remove.

Thanks for the tip...as much as I hate bunching up towels in the car, I do remember it to be quite effective...

[mazdas3sporte]

if ur too cheap like me to go buy towels then u just got to dollarma and get some cheap towels at a buck each, i picked up 10 for 10 dollars, its 10 cause there the small ones, they still do the job.

[Go_Habs_Go]

another option instead of towels is to use newspaper. I know, I know it sounds ridiculous but it works.

What I do is I put a few layers of newspaper directly over the carpet. Then I put my main mat over that layer of newspapers, put another layer of newspapers then put a smaller mat over that (this is the area where my feet will be most of the time and will catch most of the water, snow, slush and other assorted crap from wonderful winter.

then every few weeks or whenever I notice the newspaper is getting wet, I simply take out the mats and change the newspaper.

The newspaper is free (you probably have tons of it at home anyway) and I recycle the newspaper once I'm done with it in the car so the environment wins too.

Anyway just a suggestion, I've been doing this for years and never get salt stains on my carpet.

[007]

LOL
I guess that would work too. Anything to absorb the salt/slush spilling beyond the floor mats would be great.

I gues a load of used kleenex could also be an option :chuckle



another option instead of towels is to use newspaper. I know, I know it sounds ridiculous but it works.

What I do is I put a few layers of newspaper directly over the carpet. Then I put my main mat over that layer of newspapers, put another layer of newspapers then put a smaller mat over that (this is the area where my feet will be most of the time and will catch most of the water, snow, slush and other assorted crap from wonderful winter.

then every few weeks or whenever I notice the newspaper is getting wet, I simply take out the mats and change the newspaper.

The newspaper is free (you probably have tons of it at home anyway) and I recycle the newspaper once I'm done with it in the car so the environment wins too.

Anyway just a suggestion, I've been doing this for years and never get salt stains on my carpet.

[aris]

weather tech floor liners work real well...expensive but they work!

[Go_Habs_Go]

I gues a load of used kleenex could also be an option :chuckle

not a bad idea but it'll cost ya a bundle in kleenex boxes!! :chuckle


weather tech floor liners work real well...expensive but they work!

yeah, I waited too long to get them this year but I think I will invest in a set for next winter.

So i guess you are liking them so far? Do they cover enough of the carpet to protect it well?

[aris]

not a bad idea but it'll cost ya a bundle in kleenex boxes!! :chuckle



yeah, I waited too long to get them this year but I think I will invest in a set for next winter.

So i guess you are liking them so far? Do they cover enough of the carpet to protect it well?

Ya i do like them...i didn't like the price but it does work good...and they cover most of the carpet which is good considering the all season floor matts don't cover very much carpet..

[rajin929]

newspaper is good idea too, but I'd be worried about the ink leaking through or the newspaper getting soaked and starting to shread into little peices by the mat moving around making an even bigger mess.

[Go_Habs_Go]

newspaper is good idea too, but I'd be worried about the ink leaking through or the newspaper getting soaked and starting to shread into little peices by the mat moving around making an even bigger mess.

I've always had dark carpets so I've never noticed any staining from the ink. I don't know if it would be an issue with cars with a very light carpet. (i.e. beige or something like that).

However the idea is not for the newspaper to be getting absolutely soaked through. It's there under and inbetween my 2 layers of mats and it catches the spill over from the mats. I usually change the newspapers every couple of weeks, more or less depending on the snow and slush we are getting. As soon as I notice that the newspaper is getting very wet, I just remove it!

I'm also uber careful about knocking the snow off my boots before getting in the car so I don't bring in a foot of snow every time I get in and out of the car.

Anyway, like I said, I've been doing this for years and it's always worked for me! :-)

[Ogata]

anyone fix their scratches on your plastic door lining from snow brushing? I wonder if Meg's PlastX works...it looks SO HORRIBLE...stupid snow brush...just ordered an Oxo Snow Brush and waiting for it to be shipped.

[Flagrum_3]

Alot of ideas here, but just a word of caution for anyone thinking on using towels or the like; Make sure there is no way they can somehow shift and effect any pedal travel.....it could put you in a scary situation! ...and I don't think the cops or insurance companies would look highly on it.

Someone mentioned buying that plastic covering some use for when painting; this would probably be the best idea but it would have to be cut so you can tuck it under pieces such as the center console, kick panel etc; but you'd still have to make sure it's fastened well as not to effect your pedals...just a thought :)


_3

[Go_Habs_Go]

Someone mentioned buying that plastic covering some use for when painting; this would probably be the best idea but it would have to be cut so you can tuck it under pieces such as the center console, kick panel etc; but you'd still have to make sure it's fastened well as not to effect your pedals...just a thought :)


I've always thought about using the plastic sheet to cover the entire area but my concerns with the plastic are that the snow/slush/water is never really absorbed (it just stays on the plastic) and since you have to tuck in the plastic really well (under plastic pieces such as center console, etc) then it's not really simple to take it out and empty out the water that has collected on it, the way you would do with a rubber mat.

Also, what happens if you get a small hole somewhere in the plastic? You'll never notice that hole and all the water will leak out on to your carpet and stay trapped there!! Dirt salt water trapped under the plastic and eating away at your carpet from December to March!! Disaster waiting to happen if you ask me!

Anyway that's why with newspaper you don't have to worry about that since it absorbs any water that your mat doesn't get and you can easily take the wet newspaper out and replace it with dry one. So far this winter I've only had to change my newspaper once and it's already snowed 3 times in Montreal.

VIVE LE NEWSPAPIER LIBRE!!!

[007]

Should be the other way around.

My towels edges are all squeezed under the door sill, centre console, and are prefectly following the contour of the floor. The rubber mat is still maintained in place by the hook. Nothing is moving. Plus, towel over carpet - this mix has some friction resistence.
Towels are not thick either, 1/8in at most.

In fact, I would be scared like shit to use plastic over carpet, that would be slippery like hell and would have a tendency to move all the time.




Alot of ideas here, but just a word of caution for anyone thinking on using towels or the like; Make sure there is no way they can somehow shift and effect any pedal travel.....it could put you in a scary situation! ...and I don't think the cops or insurance companies would look highly on it.

Someone mentioned buying that plastic covering some use for when painting; this would probably be the best idea but it would have to be cut so you can tuck it under pieces such as the center console, kick panel etc; but you'd still have to make sure it's fastened well as not to effect your pedals...just a thought :)


_3

[Flagrum_3]

Just wanted to make sure everyone was thinking about safety first and foremost!!

Anyways, I think by using plastic it would still be better as your not using it as a mat but as a protector! Your mat would be on top of the plastic and as for cleaning the plastic, its simple use a vacuum at any car wash or station to suck up all the shit and a couple of old rags or paper towel to wipe it....If your concerned about the mat moving around on the plastic, believe me it doesn't....and as for the plastic it only slightly starts coming out from under the pieces but this is cured using two strips of velcro.

It's really only there to protect areas not covered by the winter mat right?


_3