I live in Chicago and this winter has been horrible to us. It has been a whole lot of snow and below freezing temperatures. Because of all the snow my car is cover in salt (just like everyone else‘s). The temperature isn‘t warming up and won‘t be for a while so I can‘t just get my car washed. I was thinking that maybe I can clean the salt off with the wiper fluid. The brand I have doesn‘t freeze until under - 20°. I have read that the wiper fluid isn‘t really good for the finish, but is it really any worse than the salt?
What a question! I vote no. Wait till the car wash is available. Its been said that road salt only works down to 17 degrees. Its also been said that below 17 that salt isn't hurting anything either. Its when things warm up that a chemical reaction starts to eat on your cars body. Maybe so, maybe not.
Park in a heated underground garage for a day while you do some shopping. Yes, it's much worse than salt on your finish, salt attacks any exposed metal ( usually rock chips ), the windshield wiper fluid attacks the paint and finish. The deicing fluid they use on planes is 95% sodium acetate. If you remember from grade school, vinegar and baking soda makes sodium acetate and lots of CO2. However, household vinegar is only 5% to 10% vinegar with rest being water so I don't know how effective it would be. Just bear with it and leave your car covered in salt like everyone else, trying to wipe it down would use the salt as an abrasive.
If you care enough about your car to wash it I assume you don't want to ruin the paint? I wouldn't use washer fluid. They do have carwashes with heated water. You should also get the undercarriage wash. That will wash off the salt from underneath where it does the most damage. Yes, the water will freeze on your car after you drive away from the wash, but it will be clean.
