Thought I'd share with you guys a few things that I've found which work great on cleaning up the RDX when it's been through the winter wringer.

One of the best products that I've been using is Eastwood's Road Salt Neutralizer. Just mix 6 oz. per gallon of water, spray on, wait 3 minutes, and hose off with water. Makes quick work of neutralizing road salt on all metal surfaces and painted surfaces. I use it on the underside of the RDX and all the way up to the belt line of the windows (it's safe for paint). I also use it on the entire tailgate, glass and all, since it gets so dirty back there.

Follow up with your choice of automotive car soap and finish with a good spray wax.

A few tips:

- I bought the one gallon sprayer that Eastwood sells and found that I could do better at the local hardware store. For the size of the RDX, you really need a two gallon sprayer with a locking handle, so your hand doesn't get tired.

- Mixing the neutralizer with hot water really makes it cut through the tough stuff.

- Spray it on a dry vehicle, don't wet the vehicle first.

- Don't leave it on for more than 5 minutes because it'll just dry out and you're back to square one again.

- Start with the underside, center of the vehicle, then work your way to the outside. Hose off when ready. Then work on the nose, doors and tailgate. Hose off when ready. Proceed with normal car washing procedures.

Products:

Eastwood Road Salt Neutralizer
http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-roa...erchant-Centre

Meguiar's Ultimate Quick Wax
http://www.meguiars.com/estore/produ...ectionID=11503

 

thanks for the tip. my problem really is my inability to use my hose during winter as my pipes are frozen. but will try this, as you suggested and maybe get buckets of water and just pour it on the body after i use the product. otherwise, id have to go to those coin op washes...

 

sorry couldnt edit my earlier post, but just as a ff up question, how come, indeed, the tailgate gets so dirty from bumper all the way up? dont see sedans getting that dirty even in those vehicles' rear brake lights, bumpers. maybe i just dont observe well enough but it seems like the tailgate (and rear tailgate wiper/windshield) attracts so much dirt/splash too. thanks for any insights

 

I lack the luxury of a garage or a driveway. Just take it to the carwash, touchless if possible each week and just make sure you select the under carriage and you'll be fine.

 

I've noticed this too. It has to do with aerodynamics and the vertical surface at the back of the vehicle. The more vertical surface and blocky styling at the back of the vehicle, the more this happens.

In fact, before rear wipers were standard fare, a lot of 80's GM station wagons had a wing across the top of the rear glass. Some people thought that this was for pure "sporty" styling, but it was actually made to accelerate the air over the rear glass and keep it clean/clear during rain storms and daily driving. It actually worked pretty good.

 

How do you take care of the undercarriage?

 

My technique is to spray the neutralizing solution on the underside of the car with a (hand pump) pressurized liquid sprayer. Start in the middle and work your way outward. Wait 3 minutes and then use a hose to get underneath and give it a good rinse with plain water.

You could also take the sprayer and solution to a car wash and treat it there. Follow it up with a hot, sudsy spray and then a plain water spray. Although, unless you somehow dry the underside before you leave, you'll create a magnet for new powdery salt residue already on your roads (depending on how clean your roads are at the time). Either way, you're still ahead of the game and something is better than nothing.

I have the luxury of a driveway and garage, so after the RDX gets washed, it sits in the garage for a few hours or overnight to dry the underside.

I've used the hot water/soapy sprayers at the car washes for years and they do a pretty job, but they aren't neutralizing the salt.

 

^

 

cool! thanks for the tips/insights.