Why washing winter salt off your car now can prevent costly repairs later

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — It’s been a couple of weeks since January’s winter storm left roads coated in snow and ice — and many cars covered in salt, grime, and residue. Now that temperatures are warming up, experts say cleaning your vehicle is about more than looks.

Auto professionals warn that leaving road salt and ice-melting chemicals on your car can lead to long-term damage if it’s not removed.

“Salt acts like an abrasive,” said Keith Dennis with KD Auto Repair and Detailing. “If you’re driving down the road and wind is catching it, it’s almost like sandpaper on your paint. Once it gets to bare metal, salt traps moisture underneath the vehicle, especially around suspension components. That’s when corrosion and rust really start.”

Dennis says rust can cause premature failure in steering and suspension parts — and if corrosion gets bad enough, parts can weaken or even break, creating a serious safety risk.

He says full detailing is the best way to remove salt completely, but even a thorough trip through a car wash is far better than doing nothing.

And drivers are taking notice.

At Whitewater Car Wash, the warmer weather brought a surge of customers.

“By 11 this morning, we’d already seen over 200 vehicles,” said Bryan Downs. “We’re probably looking at over 1,000 today since it’s the first warm day. We’re excited to get as many cars cleaned up as possible.”

Among them was Anna Dominick, who stopped by during her lunch break.

“I was hoping to get a lot of the dust and grime off my car — especially the bottom,” Dominick said. “On my street, there’s been massive ice buildup, and it’s scraped the underside of my car for two weeks. I wanted to clean it as much as I could.”

Dennis says even though there’s still ice and salt on some roads, waiting for everything to fully melt isn’t the best plan.

“If you wait until after the next snow or until all the salt is gone, you’re just compounding the problem,” he said. “Getting it off now helps slow down the damage.”