Plano, Texas – (January 22, 2026) – With record-breaking cold weather forecasted to threaten over 200M Americans this weekend, ZIPS Car Wash has tips to protect vehicles from ice, snow, and freezing rain. For most Americans, personal vehicles are their second largest financial investment and car washing experts at ZIPS recommend these proactive steps to protect your investment:
Before the storm, remove existing dirt and residue. Prevent dirt from being sealed into your paint job by those pending freezing temperatures with protective cleaning before the storm hits.
Add a protective barrier. Graphene and ceramic products make it more difficult for slush and corrosive salt to cling to your car's exterior. ZIPS Z5X Ceramic is a synthetic wax treatment that protects your car's paint job from the harshest elements of winter, keeping your ride cleaner longer, while offering more protection than your average wash products. Once temperatures drop and ice sets in, washing becomes harder—and the damage risk increases. Getting ahead of it now is the easiest way to protect your car through the cold snap.
Leave salt on the streets. Since road crews use strong salt mixtures to melt ice, they’re incredibly effective at helping you stay safe on the road. However, these salt products wreak havoc on vehicle exteriors. A quick spin through an automatic car wash will remove the salt and prevent erosion and rust.
Stay safe on the road. Don't attempt to drive in icy road conditions and follow the advice provided from local weather advisories.
Equip your vehicle with an emergency kit. Be sure you have essentials like a thick blanket, bottled water, snacks, a flashlight and an emergency radio in your vehicle in case you get stuck in a storm.
Wash your vehicle after the storm. For maximum protection, to remove the road salt and road grime and prevent rusting and erosion, wash your vehicle in the immediate days following the winter weather.
“Unlike hand washing, express car washes like ours use a pre-wash application to break down abrasive salt and winter debris before your vehicle gets to the soft cloth portion of the car wash, so contaminants don’t get rubbed into your paint before they are properly broken down,” said Gil Castro, VP of Operations, ZIPS Car Wash.
"We’re preparing our teams and our facilities to serve customers consistently through this storm and advise above all that consumers take action to protect their vehicles and stay safe during the storm,” he added.
Now through Thursday, January 29th, ZIPS wants to make protecting your vehicle even easier with wash code COLD. Enter the code in the free ZIPS Car Wash mobile app or give it to a team member at your local ZIPS for $10 off ZIPS’ best car wash to ensure your car is protected. With over 200 locations, find a ZIPS near you at https://zipscarwash.com/locations.
About ZIPS Car Wash
ZIPS Car Wash, headquartered in Plano, Texas, is a privately held car wash operator, with over 200 locations across 20 states under three brands: ZIPS Car Wash, Rocket Express Car Wash, and Jet Brite Car Wash. With over 20 years of car washing experience, ZIPS prides itself on providing the highest quality express tunnel car wash in the industry. ZIPS uses the latest industry technology to provide a clean, dry, and shiny vehicle, exceptional customer experiences and value through loyalty rewards in the innovative ZIPS Car Wash mobile app. The ZIPS team aims to positively impact the communities we live and serve in through key partnerships with schools, military non-profit organizations and community leaders. In 2025, ZIPS Car Wash was recognized by Newsweek as a “Best of the Best” and “Best in Customer Service” award recipient. To learn more about our growing express car wash, visit www.zipscarwash.com.