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?

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.

Interesting. I may try it on my old truck first to see how it works. I am skeptical about swirling (Although they did demonstrate it on a Ferrari) without having any rinse water on it.

Optimum No-Rinse Demo

I just go to the DIY car wash booths and pressure wash it with hot water. I don't use soap in the winter time.

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 :)

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.

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.

Hmm......Sounds like I have no choice but to "toughen up" or find an alternative washing regimen. This is the first really dark colored car I've owned that was new. It doesn't get near as cold here, but my limit for washing is about 40 degrees, when it's sunny.

They put down salt here in michigan. Its not good for the car at all. I'd rather have sand but I think salt is more effective on the ice than sand.

i get a good coat of wax on mine, and wash it when ever its in the 40's, stays pretty clean, then come spring time i wash it really well again

Wear rubber gloves, and boots if your feet get wet. It's hard to work when your hands and feet are freezing.

It stays dirty when temps are below freezing. It gets washed only when temps go above freezing. Use rubber gloves and warm water(if possible).

Touchless Automatic for me. I don't care about swirls or anything during the winter, I just want the rock salt off my car so it doesn't rust.

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.

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.....

The car was supposedly waxed or protected at the dealer, but it sounds like I need to get a good coat of wax on it before the winter. I may o a combination of the No-Rinse and washing it when warm enough.

Sometimes having a new car is a pain. My old truck gets washed at least twice a year.:p

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.

It's sunny and clear skies 95% of the year in SoCal.

i just wash my car at the diy place if it is open if not then it stays dirty lol.

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)

When the temperature gets below 50 - a long handle brush like this is your best friend. Do not have to get your hands wet.
Road salt is very important to remove from the cars finish. Have an '03 Mazda that already has rust in the rear wheel area...

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/autog...h-action-1.jpg

Yep! That's why we're so addicted to coffee in Seattle - we need the caffeine buzz to help us make it through the 10 - 11 months of wet, gray skies... It's too bad the weather wasn't good when you were out here - it's quite nice on those few occasions when the sun does come out :-) I also had someone put a coat of the polymer paint sealant on my Fit a week ago to keep it protected during the winter months because it probably won't get it's weekly bath (but I'll at least try to have it washed a couple times a month).

It's just a matter of convenience to go to one of those touchless automatic places -- especially in the winter. I see vehicles costing 2-3 times what I spent on the Fit going through these washes. The Chicago winters demand getting all that salt off cars whenever possible. I hate swirls, but I hate rust even more....

that or use a shitty beater, fits are too good to ruin in the snow

Optimum No rinse is the answer. I detail cars and use this even in the summer. Requires 4 gallons of water, 2 buckets and 2oz of optimum no rinse. Works amazing, takes less than 20 minutes and can be done in the garage. Also a good quick detail spray wipedown about twice a week while keep it looking clean.