I use the garden hose with a small nozzle opening to wash the road salt off the cold engine and the dirt. I do this maybe 3 or 4 times a year. I also use Simple Green to get off oil and grease. Just don't spray directly on the wires and stay away from the spark plugs. I like to do this on sunny warm days.
I now have a compressor to blow the water off afterwards but a shop vac or leaf blower could be used. I let the car dry off for a few hours before starting. It is harder to do on the 2.2 engine cause the spark plug wells hold water. Shorts out the plugs if there is water in there.