Need a strong Shampoo to remove road salt

LeMarque

LeMarque

New member
Here in NM they use a red salt on the roads after the snow. We had an SUV, for example, where the body was covered with this residue half way up the body. Using a 2000 psi pressure washer - hooked up to a hot water line - rinsed the car off. It didn't remove much of the salt from the body; less but still highly visible. Proceeded to gently wash the body panels (didn't want to grind this stuff into the paint) then rinsed again. Still left with a fair amount of salt! Had to wash those areas yet again.


 


So if we're not concerned with stripping the wax, any recommendations for a shampoo that will get this salt off first time around?
 
I would try Optimum No Rinse. You mix it 1 to 256 for the normal wash.  Since it sounds as if you have a


highly contaminated surface, you can always increase this concentration to provide added lubrication.


  It is possible that just that, combined with warm water will strip all of the contaminents.  If you get some


of the Optimum Power Clean, you might be able to add that to the No Rinse at low levels to help clean the grime. 


 


 


If you keep the Power Clean concentration below 3 to 1, then you "should" not strip the wax. 


The reason that I suggest just trying the Optimum No Rinse first, is that you might be able to find something


that does not disturb your wax barrier.  Actually, if you get the ONR with Wax, then you can clean and wax it


in the same step.  Ultimately, if you can find a non-stripper, you will be able to deal with the contamination easier,


because you will have the barrier.


 


I have not tried that Citrus Wash, so I can not attest to which is a better product.


 


Have fun finding your favorite product line. 


Keep us informed when you do, and how your tests went.
 
Auto Finesse Avalanche says it designed to remove such things. It's for foaming though. If you can't remove the salt after pressure washing with a good shampoo, something isn't right. Almost any quality soap should work. Another good one is Bilt Hamber Snow Foam. But, you have to get it from EU, so it costs $$$

Ultima Shampoo is pretty strong as well.
 
IMO the LSP has a lot to do with it, but I'm doing fine with Griot's Car Wash.  I do my usual ultra-gentle washes and the vehicles come clean with no problems.  Note that between washes, said vehicles get so salty/filthy that you can't tell what colors they are.
 
The original Citrus Wash which was designed just for stripping waxes isn't listed on their website any longer but is still available.  Autoaulity carries it in both pints and gallons.
 
I just removed thick sprayed on salt with ONR.  I sprayed the ONR solution on one panel at a time, then immediately washed the panel with a microfiber mitt drenched in a warm  ONR solution.  Immediately dried with clean microfiber towel (since it was below 20 degrees F. and I didn't want it to freeze).  Worked for me on the white salt variety.
 
Accumulator said:
IMO the LSP has a lot to do with it, but I'm doing fine with Griot's Car Wash.  I do my usual ultra-gentle washes and the vehicles come clean with no problems.  Note that between washes, said vehicles get so salty/filthy that you can't tell what colors they are.
Click to expand...


 


If the LSP had anything to do with it ...


 


Well, this is a 'maintenance' customer of mine and he came back in for a rain check; it started snowing just as we finished what was his monthly wash and wax. They receive a detail every third visit. For the W&W we use <ducking> Protectall


 


I actually like it. They get Poxy for the detail visit.
pwaug said:
The original Citrus Wash which was designed just for stripping waxes isn't listed on their website any longer but is still available.  Autoaulity carries it in both pints and gallons.
Click to expand...


 


Thanks. It would be good to have this on hand.


 
bill57 said:
I just removed thick sprayed on salt with ONR.  I sprayed the ONR solution on one panel at a time, then immediately washed the panel with a microfiber mitt drenched in a warm  ONR solution.  Immediately dried with clean microfiber towel (since it was below 20 degrees F. and I didn't want it to freeze).  Worked for me on the white salt variety.
Click to expand...


 


ONR seems to have a few votes for this issue. I'll definetly give it a try as you suggest. Probably pressure wash it first tho.
 
Up here they salt the roads and also use a solution to prevent black ice from forming. We have dealt with it for years. When its too cold hand wash I go to the spray wash and just using the rinse cycle it removes the crud and any salt residue.


Salt is water soluable and the wash wand removes it . My son just drove 4hours over 3 different mountain passes and the salt washed off with a hose.


I just spent a week driving 40 miles twive a day on snow/salt covered roads and a soaking with the hose and a gentle wash with TW soap in warm water took it all off.


OP . You sure its salt or a solution.
 
<span style="font-size:12pt;">You can try Autoglym's Bodywork shampoo, it gives best result to remove salt and grime from cars and other vehicles. :)
 
//edit


 


Can't find ny info other than this is crushed volcanic rock.


 


Well, most of the salt is gone so here's the best I could find:


 





 


 
Auto Finnesse Avalanche via foam lance. Here in N.J. it's a combo of salt and solution. Some nearby towns use the salt/molasses combo.
 
Have you tried pre-treating? Spray with TAW or OPC, dwell but keep wet (i continue to spray chemicals on it to re-wet as I wait), then pressure wash off. See if it helps loosen that nasty stuff.
 
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