It's a winter where it's nearly impossible to keep your vehicle clean. Maybe you assume that rust takes a winter holiday and you wait until May to wash it. Or maybe you're obsessively getting your car washed twice a week.
That adds up. You can always save cash by going to self-service washes, but where are the cheap drive-through washes?
Here's one: A $4 drive-through wash at Jim's Chicago Service (5400 Chicago Av. S., Minneapolis, 612-823-9913). It isn't brushless, but it's cheap. Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.
Here are more with a caveat: a free wash on or near your birthday.
The Downtowner Car Wash (520 E. 7th St., St. Paul, 651-222-7045, www.Downtownercarwash.com/coupon.cfm) offers a free Gold wash ($22 value) within a week of your birthday with the coupon from the website.
The Mermaid Car Wash (901 Louisiana Av. S., Golden Valley, 763-544-9700) allows a free Pelican wash ($13 value) on your birthdate only.
Dan's Nicollet Carwash (5925 Nicollet Av. S., Minneapolis, 612-869-5812, www.danscarwash.com) offers its Great wash ($13 value) if you sign up at the website and sign up for the e-mail birthday club.
Paradise Car Wash provides one full-service wash ($14 value) within three days before or after your birthday. Paradise has locations in Apple Valley, Savage (two), Bloomington (two) and Eagan. Call 952-431-4600 or go www.paradisecarwash.com.
