I have a heated garage with drain and water so I consider myself lucky. I end up washing my car weekly if not more to keep the slush off it.

But a friend of mine uses a portable water sprayer, the type you can manually pump up and comes with a wand, and he hoses off the major debris with the pressure. Then he wipes off with QD and a microfiber. This works well on his black cars which would show any swirls or scratches.

If the car is really, really encrusted with salt he will go to the do-it-yourself car wash and gently hose it off then take it straight home for the QD and microfiber finishing.

 

What's QD?

 

QD is quick detailer (I think Z6 is a QD?)

 

Yes, QD stands for quick detailer. It's a spray that can be used in between washes and has a couple benefits. You spray it on and buff it of with a microfiber towel. A good QD has great lubricating qualities so dust and even light dirt can be wiped off the surface of the paint safely without scratching. So if your car is dusty or lightly dirty you can make it look spotless without washing it. It adds shine and also adds a bit of protection. I use it frequently, even after washes to renew the slickness to my fresh washed paint finish. It's also a safe way to remove emergency bird bombs and the like. I carry a bottle in the trunk at all times!

You often will choose a QD that is compatible with the wax you are using. I have Zaino on a few of my cars so I choose Zaino Z6 QD for those cars.

If you were using Einzett Glanz Wax, for instance you should get the comparable QD because it is chemically compatible to work best with the wax.

QD is a must have!

 

Duhhhhh! I feel stupid, I am on my third bottle of the stuff (z6). We got a early, heavy snow yesterday and I have to admit I chickened out and took my truck and left my mini safely in the garage. When I saw those salt trucks driving around town I realized that I will have a hard time taking Steely out in the weather. I got an order from Zaino the other day and asked the question to them about spraying the wash and wiping off, but they said I would have to call. Kinda surprised no one has ever tried this before and responded to say "yea" or "nay" yet. Since today is Thanksgiving, I will try tomorrow and see if I can run it by them.
Kirk

 

As BradB said, I'd use the QD only if your car is lightly soiled or dusty. I wouldn't try to remove a layer of grime and/or salt using QD; you're likely to do more harm than good.

If your bodywork has been well-Zainoed before winter with Z5 or Z2 then you're in pretty good shape against salt, so I wouldn'y worry about making it look too pretty (especially if it's driven frequently over the winter); you'll be fighting a losing battle.

I think it's more important to wash off the salt and snow build-up from underneath the car, wheels & brakes etc. on a regular basis and maybe put the car through a touchless car wash once a week (or every couple of weeks)......that's if you don't have the luxury of a heated garage with running water then you can pamper it to your heart's delight

 

Up here were winter means temps well below -10 F,washing a car is a challange.Nothing can happen outside,as it freezes NOW
What I do is go to a wand wash that has a hot air blower to take care of the door handles,hatch and bonnet.Costs another buck,but the doors open.If not to cold I go to a touch less automatic wash to get the grime off.When the temps are colder than- 25 F,the car stays dirty