Is It Ever Too Cold to Wash Your Car? Not at Rice Street Car Wash!

David Knutson
2 days ago
3 min read

Picture a frosty St. Paul morning, your breath puffing in clouds as you eye your car, its sleek lines hidden beneath a gritty veil of winter salt and slush. The thermometer dips low, and you wonder: Is it too cold to wash my car?

At Rice Street Car Wash, the answer is a resounding no!

Our state-of-the-art Petit 360 Automatic Car Wash and self-serve bays stay open even when temperatures plummet to 15–20 degrees below zero, delivering a sparkling clean without freezing you or your ride. Here’s why braving the chill for a wash in St. Paul is not only possible but essential, and how we make it happen.

Steam rises inside the Rice Street Car Wash touch-free automatic on a cold winter day as the undercarriage spray powers on — a reminder that regular winter washes are essential to remove salt and protect your vehicle from rust.

Why Wash Your Car in Subzero Temps?

Minnesota winters coat your car in a corrosive cocktail of road salt, ice melt, and grime that clings like frost on a January dawn. Left unchecked, this gritty mix can eat away at your paint, undercarriage, and wheel wells, dulling your vehicle’s shine and inviting rust. Washing your car at Rice Street Car Wash, even in extreme cold, protects its finish and value, keeping it gleaming like a beacon against the snowy St. Paul skyline. Our equipment is built to handle frigid conditions, so you can drive away with a spotless ride, no matter how low the mercury drops.

How We Keep Your Car Clean in the Cold

At Rice Street Car Wash, we’re tougher than a Minnesota winter. Our Petit 360 and self-serve bays are designed to operate flawlessly down to 15–20 below zero, ensuring your car gets the care it deserves. Here’s how we make it work:

Heated Systems: Our wash equipment uses heated water and carefully calibrated soaps to melt away ice and salt without freezing on contact. The Petit 360’s Variable Frequency Drives optimize water flow, delivering a thorough clean even in subzero temps.
Touchless Technology: The Petit 360’s high-pressure jets and eco-friendly foams blast away grime without brushes that could freeze or scratch, leaving your car’s finish as smooth as a frozen Mississippi.
Quick-Dry Spot-Free Rinse: Our signature spot-free rinse ensures water doesn’t linger to freeze, drying to a streak-free shine that sparkles under St. Paul’s winter sun.
Self-Serve Flexibility: For hands-on cleaning, our self-serve bays ($4 for 4 minutes) offer heated sprays and mat clamps to clean salty WeatherTech mats, keeping your interior pristine.

A service van is being cleaned in the Rice Street Car Wash touch-free automatic as strong undercarriage jets spray upward, showing that the wash can handle larger vans and trucks.

Tips for Washing in Extreme Cold

To make your winter wash at Rice Street Car Wash a breeze, follow these pro tips:

Wash Early in the Day: Clean your car when temperatures are at their warmest, typically midday, to minimize any risk of water freezing on door seals or locks.
Focus on the Undercarriage: Use the self-serve bay’s Tire and Engine Cleaner or the Petit 360’s undercarriage spray to blast away corrosive salt hiding beneath your car.
Dry Door Edges: After washing, wipe door edges and seals with a microfiber towel (starting at $3 in our vending area) to prevent ice buildup.
Add Protection: Opt for our High Pressure Wax Sealant in the self-serve bay or Petit 360’s wax package to coat your car in a protective shield, repelling salt and grime for weeks.

Why St. Paul Drivers Trust Us

Rooted in the heart of St. Paul, Roseville and Maplewood, Rice Street Car Wash is as resilient as the Mississippi’s flow or the sturdy oaks of Como Park. Our commitment to staying open through bone-chilling cold—down to 15–20 below—means you never have to sacrifice a clean car, even in the depths of winter. Local driver Haley says it best: “I thought my truck was doomed to a salty winter haze, but Rice Street’s Petit 360 made it shine like new, even at 10 below!” Her vehicle’s gleaming finish turns heads from Summit Avenue to the State Capitol.

Keep Your Car Shining, No Matter the Cold

Don’t let Minnesota’s icy grip dull your ride. Swing by Rice Street Car Wash, where our self-serve bays and Petit 360 Automatic Car Wash defy the cold, delivering a radiant clean for just $4 to start in the self-serve or a quick pass through the automatic. Your car will emerge sparkling, ready to brave St. Paul’s winter roads with a glow that rivals the city’s snowy skyline. Visit www.ricestreetcarwash.com or follow us on social for more car care tips to keep your ride radiant through every season.

Drive the shine, defy the cold at Rice Street!

Rice Street Car Wash: Where Winter Meets Shine.