How Do You Wash in Winter

churchillps · 10-20-2011, 09:26 AM

Might sound like a dumb question, but I'm from Texas and when I lived in Chicago I didn't have a car. I was thinking this morning, how do you wash your car if it's barely above freezing for months at a time?

SpmnE9zero · 10-20-2011, 09:29 AM

spray it off mostly. I have JB so I hate touch the car with all that grime on it.
everyone asks me how I keep my car so clean and without swirls, well, I am very cautious.

Just spray it off 2-3 times a week very thoroughly with a pressure washer. I will wash it with a sponge maybe once a month throughout the winter, but only after really spraying it off.

As far as the absolute freezing days, I just dont wash it. Wait for a few good warmer days and go over her and dry her off with a chamois.

2011328xi · 10-20-2011, 10:03 AM

I usually wash it in the garage. No heat or drain in there so it's pretty cold and miserable but it gets the job done. Sometimes I actaully have to thaw the hose out first. The neighbors think I'm insane but I can't let it go more than a few weeks without washing. Especially with all the salt and sand from the roads.

ZURICH · 10-20-2011, 10:13 AM

Here in Switzerland we have HOT wash stands so pressure wash of crap with hot soap and water rinse with hot water then a hot wax wash the dry, all under cover. Excelent.

sorryiwasnapping · 10-20-2011, 11:11 AM

Either wait for a warm(er) day and do a "hoseless" wash with Chemical Guys hoseless soap. Or grab my buckets, soap, microfibers, and a crap load of quarters and head to one of those "do it yourself car washes"

Royal Flush · 10-20-2011, 11:17 AM

How to safely wash your car in the Winter

Wash and wax in 60 minutes featuring Optimum No Rinse

Winter washing with Optimum No Rinse

dday · 10-20-2011, 01:18 PM

I run it through a touchless car wash in the winter. It's more about just blasting off the salt than anything else. I live in MA so it's impossible to keep your car clean for more than a day during the winter.

OG Ryder · 10-20-2011, 01:45 PM

As long as you don't have mud and salt caked on - Poorboy's Spray and Wipe.

Gig103 · 10-20-2011, 02:09 PM

In the winter in Philly, I used to run through the touchless power-washer ones. Sometimes we'd get a warm day (like the 60s?) and then I could hand wash just because I missed it.

ONR seems to be popular, although if it were me I'd go through a touchless first to be safe.

shiny_e90 · 10-21-2011, 06:20 PM

Just buy a foam cannon and wash with that. Don't even have to touch the car. Just be careful with too much pressure on your clearcoat.

Royal Flush · 10-21-2011, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by churchillps

how do you wash your car if it's barely above freezing for months at a time?

Quote:

Originally Posted by shiny_e90

Just buy a foam cannon and wash with that. Don't even have to touch the car. Just be careful with too much pressure on your clearcoat.

shiny_e90 · 10-21-2011, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal Flush

Its a hose adapter for your pressure washer.

There's a tank which has your solution in it and you can vary the water/solution ratio. And it covers you car in foam.

Wolfgang makes a good one. You can find them on Amazon.

Royal Flush · 10-21-2011, 06:43 PM

I wasn't asking what it was, I have a foam cannon setup. I was confused as how your water source is supposed to be used in barely above freezing weather?

ideliver · 10-21-2011, 06:51 PM

Heated garage with hot water lines and a floor drain. I only need a tee shirt

shiny_e90 · 10-21-2011, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal Flush

I wasn't asking what it was, I have a foam cannon setup. I was confused as how your water source is supposed to be used in barely above freezing weather?

You would have to turn off your main water source for the outside tap when not in use so the water doesn't freeze and burst pipes. And turn it on when using your pressure washer. The running water won't freeze in barely-above-freezing temperatures.

Royal Flush · 10-21-2011, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shiny_e90

You would have to turn off your main water source for the outside tap when not in use so the water doesn't freeze and burst pipes. And turn it on when using your pressure washer. The running water won't freeze in barely-above-freezing temperatures.

I just never dared trying to do so myself. My friends had bad experiences, so that made me shy away from it as well.

shiny_e90 · 10-21-2011, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal Flush

I just never dared trying to do so myself. My friends had bad experiences, so that made me shy away from it as well.

I bought a small air compressor which I use to get any water out of the line. I also use it to bleed out my sprinkler system.

Kind of annoying to do but it gets the job done.

Denny347 · 10-22-2011, 07:26 AM

I guess I'm spoiled. We have a touchless carwash company (Mike's Express Carwash) that does an outstanding job at NOT swirling your paint. $8 for a basic wash $15 for the Works that does underbody, clearcoat, and wheel brite.

MuttGrunt · 10-22-2011, 10:58 AM

The issue with touchless washes is they use very strong chemicals to clean the vehicle without physical agitation, stripping off your wax in a single wash or two at most.

B-737 · 10-22-2011, 08:18 PM

there is a local detailer by me who has 4 guys that will hand wash your car with micro fiber mitts, and dry it. i do it as necessary, no appointment needed. in warm months it takes me like an hour to wash my car. these guys do a job as good as I do, if not better and knock it out in about 10 minutes.

the catch: its $25 bucks plus i usually give them 5 or $10 tip. its more expensive than a drug habit. but theres no fussing with frozen hoses, they do a great job equal to or better than myself, and im out in 10 minutes.

Dr. G · 10-23-2011, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-737

there is a local detailer by me who has 4 guys that will hand wash your car with micro fiber mitts, and dry it. i do it as necessary, no appointment needed. in warm months it takes me like an hour to wash my car. these guys do a job as good as I do, if not better and knock it out in about 10 minutes.

the catch: its $25 bucks plus i usually give them 5 or $10 tip. its more expensive than a drug habit. but theres no fussing with frozen hoses, they do a great job equal to or better than myself, and im out in 10 minutes.

Do all 4 guys work on the car at once? 10 minutes is VERY fast to wash a whole car properly unless 4 guys are dividing the car up into sections haha.

B-737 · 10-23-2011, 09:00 PM

all at once.

id say its between 10 and 15 minutes. they let you sit in the heated garage. two bucket method with grit guards, and two wash mitt method too (wheels/wells, vs body).

10-20-2011, 09:26 AM	#1
churchillps Second Lieutenant 50 Rep 254 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	How Do You Wash in Winter Might sound like a dumb question, but I'm from Texas and when I lived in Chicago I didn't have a car. I was thinking this morning, how do you wash your car if it's barely above freezing for months at a time?
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10-20-2011, 09:29 AM	#2
SpmnE9zero DENY THE WORLD THAT SURROUNDS YOU 505 Rep 35,580 Posts Drives: JB 33ZERO Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: City of Champions iTrader: (14) Garage List 2006 330xi [0.00]	spray it off mostly. I have JB so I hate touch the car with all that grime on it. everyone asks me how I keep my car so clean and without swirls, well, I am very cautious. Just spray it off 2-3 times a week very thoroughly with a pressure washer. I will wash it with a sponge maybe once a month throughout the winter, but only after really spraying it off. As far as the absolute freezing days, I just dont wash it. Wait for a few good warmer days and go over her and dry her off with a chamois. __________________ Eurocharged V5 \| ROW's / CC Delete \| K&N's \| H&R Springs \| Single Fin G.B. Grill \| Mode Carbon Diffuser \| JBSpeed CF Spoiler \| Arkym Style CF Splitter \| CF Mirror Caps \| 5% Tints \| 12mm Spacers \|
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10-20-2011, 10:03 AM	#3
2011328xi Enlisted Member 1 Rep 33 Posts Drives: 2011 328i Xdrive Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: West Virginia iTrader: (0)	I usually wash it in the garage. No heat or drain in there so it's pretty cold and miserable but it gets the job done. Sometimes I actaully have to thaw the hose out first. The neighbors think I'm insane but I can't let it go more than a few weeks without washing. Especially with all the salt and sand from the roads.
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10-20-2011, 10:13 AM	#4
ZURICH Major 41 Rep 1,153 Posts Drives: E91 320d Touring M Sport Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wettingen iTrader: (0)	Here in Switzerland we have HOT wash stands so pressure wash of crap with hot soap and water rinse with hot water then a hot wax wash the dry, all under cover. Excelent. __________________ M Sport Package, (PDC), front / rear, Cruise control Mystic Blue Metallic, Beige Dakota leather, Alarm, Automatic transmission, Panoramic glass roof, Heated Seats, Lumbar etc etc "I don't Fuck around but when I do, I dont fuck around" Last edited by ZURICH; 10-20-2011 at 10:14 AM.. Reason: spelling, LOL
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10-20-2011, 11:11 AM	#5
sorryiwasnapping Private First Class 1 Rep 137 Posts Drives: '12 VW GTI Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Either wait for a warm(er) day and do a "hoseless" wash with Chemical Guys hoseless soap. Or grab my buckets, soap, microfibers, and a crap load of quarters and head to one of those "do it yourself car washes"
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10-20-2011, 11:17 AM	#6
Royal Flush Major 74 Rep 1,309 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Not everyone who wanders is lost. iTrader: (2)	How to safely wash your car in the Winter Wash and wax in 60 minutes featuring Optimum No Rinse Winter washing with Optimum No Rinse
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10-20-2011, 01:18 PM	#7
dday Captain 33 Rep 856 Posts Drives: 2014 Alpine White 335 M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: MA iTrader: (1)	I run it through a touchless car wash in the winter. It's more about just blasting off the salt than anything else. I live in MA so it's impossible to keep your car clean for more than a day during the winter.
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10-20-2011, 01:45 PM	#8
OG Ryder Private 2 Rep 83 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	As long as you don't have mud and salt caked on - Poorboy's Spray and Wipe.
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10-20-2011, 02:09 PM	#9
Gig103 Major 68 Rep 1,324 Posts Drives: 2014 Tesla P85D Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gilbert, AZ iTrader: (1)	In the winter in Philly, I used to run through the touchless power-washer ones. Sometimes we'd get a warm day (like the 60s?) and then I could hand wash just because I missed it. ONR seems to be popular, although if it were me I'd go through a touchless first to be safe. __________________ Was: 2008 335xi sedan 6MT Black Sapphire Metallic Is: 2014 Tesla P85D (Blue Metallic) Wife's: 2013 Infiniti G37 S sedan 6MT, Black
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10-21-2011, 06:20 PM	#10
shiny_e90 New Member 0 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325I Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	Just buy a foam cannon and wash with that. Don't even have to touch the car. Just be careful with too much pressure on your clearcoat. __________________ _______________________________________________ MONEY DOESN"T MAKE YOU HAPPY BUT IT MAKES LIFE EASY WHICH DOES MAKE YOU HAPPY
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10-21-2011, 06:43 PM	#13
Royal Flush Major 74 Rep 1,309 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Not everyone who wanders is lost. iTrader: (2)	I wasn't asking what it was, I have a foam cannon setup. I was confused as how your water source is supposed to be used in barely above freezing weather?
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10-21-2011, 06:51 PM	#14
ideliver Major 240 Rep 1,247 Posts Drives: E60 M5, E71 X6M, E46 M3 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: At the gas station iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW E46 M3 'vert [0.00] 2008 BMW M5 [0.00] 2011 BMW E92 [0.00] 2012 BMW X6M [0.00] 2003 E46 M3 [0.00]	Heated garage with hot water lines and a floor drain. I only need a tee shirt __________________ Current: 2006 E46 M3 'vert 6-sp 2008 E60 M5, 2011 E92 328 6-sp, 2011 E70 N55, 2012 E71 X6M
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10-22-2011, 07:26 AM	#18
Denny347 Major 347 Rep 1,076 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 E90 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indianapolis, IN iTrader: (0)	I guess I'm spoiled. We have a touchless carwash company (Mike's Express Carwash) that does an outstanding job at NOT swirling your paint. $8 for a basic wash $15 for the Works that does underbody, clearcoat, and wheel brite.
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10-22-2011, 10:58 AM	#19
MuttGrunt Banned 27 Rep 872 Posts Drives: beater;) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: SE Michigan iTrader: (0)	The issue with touchless washes is they use very strong chemicals to clean the vehicle without physical agitation, stripping off your wax in a single wash or two at most.
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10-22-2011, 08:18 PM	#20
B-737 Captain 50 Rep 825 Posts Drives: a car. Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Jersey Shore iTrader: (6) Garage List 2011 328 xi [7.26]	there is a local detailer by me who has 4 guys that will hand wash your car with micro fiber mitts, and dry it. i do it as necessary, no appointment needed. in warm months it takes me like an hour to wash my car. these guys do a job as good as I do, if not better and knock it out in about 10 minutes. the catch: its $25 bucks plus i usually give them 5 or $10 tip. its more expensive than a drug habit. but theres no fussing with frozen hoses, they do a great job equal to or better than myself, and im out in 10 minutes. __________________
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10-23-2011, 09:00 PM	#22
B-737 Captain 50 Rep 825 Posts Drives: a car. Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Jersey Shore iTrader: (6) Garage List 2011 328 xi [7.26]	all at once. id say its between 10 and 15 minutes. they let you sit in the heated garage. two bucket method with grit guards, and two wash mitt method too (wheels/wells, vs body). __________________
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