Cold weather car wash?
#1
Cold weather car wash?
I've been washing my car pretty much every weekend since I got it. Now that it is getting cooler, I don't think I will be washing it that much (we are weak in Texas when it comes to cold). What do you guys up in the "Great White North" do during the winter? Do you just wash it when the spring thaw comes? Is it bad to leave a lot of dirt on the car?
#2
Check out Optimum No-Rinse car wash. Takes about 15 minutes to wash the car and uses less than 4 gallons of water for me. Some people use it in their garage if they have one. With 15 minutes and hardly any water, you shouldn't get too cold.
#3
Optimum No-Rinse Demo
#5
I wash my vehicles all the time in the winter and haven't had any problems. Some random thoughts:
- The sand, gravel, salt and de-icing solutions that are used in many places are not good for the car. Washing them off regularly is a GOOD thing.
- I always use compressed air (usually found in the various wash bay type setups) to dry the locks, door handles and windows before leaving. It helps to eliminate these from being frozen afterwards.
- It's amazing how clean a car can stay when the temps are well below freezing and stay that way. When nothing is melting, there is virtually no spray or road moisture to worry about
- The sand, gravel, salt and de-icing solutions that are used in many places are not good for the car. Washing them off regularly is a GOOD thing.
- I always use compressed air (usually found in the various wash bay type setups) to dry the locks, door handles and windows before leaving. It helps to eliminate these from being frozen afterwards.
- It's amazing how clean a car can stay when the temps are well below freezing and stay that way. When nothing is melting, there is virtually no spray or road moisture to worry about
#6
Unfortunately, down here, if it snows or ices, they put down sand, and it when the ice or snow melts, you just have muddy sand. Usually it just rains.
#7
For sure, that's just like us in the Fall and Spring. It makes for very dirty roads. I'd be sure to wash it in those conditions just to try and keep the paint surface as clean as you can. It's amazing how keeping the dirt on the surface will add to your total scratch count. It's acts like sandpaper everytime someone brushes your paint with their coat in a parking lot, if you take a rock from a tire, etc.
#8
For sure, that's just like us in the Fall and Spring. It makes for very dirty roads. I'd be sure to wash it in those conditions just to try and keep the paint surface as clean as you can. It's amazing how keeping the dirt on the surface will add to your total scratch count. It's acts like sandpaper everytime someone brushes your paint with their coat in a parking lot, if you take a rock from a tire, etc.
#14
I do a touchless wash before hand to get any big chunks off and to clean the undercarriage. The no touch wash never gets the car really clean though. The trick is to never rub your car with anything while the surface is dry. I keep a gallon garden sprayer full of No Rinse to rewet anything that needs it and I wash and dry one panel at a time.
You really have to rethink what you know about car washing, but No Rinse works great and doesnt waste near as much water. It also adds polymers that help repel water off your windows, can be used as a clay lube, and also makes a great detailer based on what concentration you use.
You really have to rethink what you know about car washing, but No Rinse works great and doesnt waste near as much water. It also adds polymers that help repel water off your windows, can be used as a clay lube, and also makes a great detailer based on what concentration you use.
#15
My plan for the winter is to take it to this good detailing shop I found where you can drop in and have them hand wash and dry it for $20. I may also try the "Optimum no Rinse" stuff alternately. I'll just cut back on my Starbucks "habit' to pay for keeping my little Fit clean during the winter months :-) Our winters here are rainy, muddy and dreary.....
#16
Sometimes having a new car is a pain. My old truck gets washed at least twice a year.
#17
What is the rest of the year like?
I went to Seattle a couple of years ago in the summer and it was rainy and dreary the whole week (except for 1 day).
Really kind of liked it though.
I went to Seattle a couple of years ago in the summer and it was rainy and dreary the whole week (except for 1 day).
Really kind of liked it though.
#20
i would re wax after the dealer... if your looking for a good wax, i recomend tech wax 2.0 if you keep your car covered or in a garage you get about 4 months of protection, out in the open about 2, when i used turtle wax i was getting a month tops my car was alst waxed in august and is out in the open most of the time, not only is the shine still incredible but the water beading is nuts, this will be the first winter i use tech wax, so we will see how it does, but i have high expectations, also the wax is easily applyed and removed. well worth the money to protect your car an 18 dollar bottle will probably last 2 years as i am about 3/4 of a year though using the wax and still have 2/3 of a bottle (though i finalley found it in paste wax and am using that to wax my car over thanks giving break)