Does your car look like garbage too? Wait before washing it, says interest group.

Does your car look filthy? Wait until the frost is gone and there’s less salt on the roads before washing it, advises the automotive interest group FDM.

The long, cold winter weather doesn’t just cause problems for cars on the roads—it also creates issues when it comes to maintenance.

You should think twice before washing your car to remove road salt and grime while winter is still in full swing.

That’s the advice from FDM, the Danish Motorists’ Association, and several auto shops that DR Nyheder has spoken with.

Problems can arise if you drive your car out of the car wash clean and polished while frost and salt remain on the roads, explains Peter Hartmann, owner of Rudkøbing Auto on Langeland.

“Frosty conditions can lead to water seeping into the wrong places, freezing into ice, seizing the brakes, and even risking that the doors won’t open if there’s been frost overnight.”

Peter Hartmann, owner of Rudkøbing Auto, urges people to wait until the weather warms up before washing their cars. *(Photo: © Youssef Pries Ayoub, DR Nyheder)*

Peter Vesti, a car dealer who runs Vesti Biler in Filskov near Vejle, agrees and adds that if your car has electric side mirrors, they can also cause trouble.

“Those small electric motors don’t have much power, and plastic becomes stiff and brittle—so they can break.”

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**Risk of rust**

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That’s why Özcan Acigora, a technical consultant at FDM, advises against taking your car to the wash. Even though it might be tempting to remove salt and dirt, you should wait until the weather clears, he says.

“We have a lot of salt on the roads. And water combined with salt can cause rust, which is another reason why you should avoid washing your car during this period.”

If you’re one of those waiting for the weather to warm up so your car can get a wash, you won’t have to wait much longer—just until the weekend’s forecast. We’ll have dry roads and temperatures above freezing.

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