How to wash in winter.

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ScoobyDrew06

New member
I live in mass and it gets very cold in the winter. I was wondering how I am supposed to wash my car every week if the temperatures are near or below freezing. Even if it was above freezing, we usually cut the water supply off to the outside nozzles so that they don't freeze and burst. I used to use one of those do it yourself wash bays, but they use cold water so as soon as you spray your car down the water just freezes to your car. I was wondering how those touchless car washes rank for winter washing. any advice is appreciated.
 
i have a propane heater in my garage, i run the water hose from my laundry tub using "hot" water..

and i employ the use of those yellow flood light commonly found at home depot.. works for me
 
I use QEW. 40*F, 30*F, 10*F, it doesn't matter. If the car is dirty/salty, I wash it. You haven't lived until you've washed your car with 2 T-shirts, a hooded sweatshirt (hood up), and a winter coat on. :)
 
tumbler said:
i have a propane heater in my garage, i run the water hose from my laundry tub using "hot" water..

and i employ the use of those yellow flood light commonly found at home depot.. works for me
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Ditto expect I have a 170,000 BTU Kersosene heater in my one car garage. Water is pumped from tanks into my PS.



Winter washing is bad up here in Western NY because the winters are so long and they use salt like anything. They will salt a road instead of plowing it sometimes.



If you don't have access to a garage and some water, then QEW might be your saving grace. That or a really good laser wash.
 
tumbler said:
i have a propane heater in my garage, i run the water hose from my laundry tub using "hot" water..

and i employ the use of those yellow flood light commonly found at home depot.. works for me
Click to expand...

While my winters are not nearly as severe as up north, washing a car is still a cold experience. I also make use of the laundry tub's hot water tap. Keeps the fingers from freezing :dance
 
okay, so I dont' have access to any hot water in my garage or outside. I do have a propane heater in my garage, but I do not have a drain, so no washing the car in the garage. I guess I'll have to look into that QEW.



atticdog, i live in auburn, right next to woosta.
 
well I have a rather elaborate process for washing my car in the garage w/no drain.



My apartment home is 125 feet from the garages. I have two 25 gallon water tanks that I move between the house and garage with a hand truck (I run a hose from one of the washing machine spigot's out the window to fill up the tanks with hot water).



I have a cheessy craftsman water pump that pulls the water out of the tank and into my DI System then out to my pressure washer (electric). I bring two buckets of water (one wash one for rinsing the mitts) with me when I come out, along w/MF's and WW's)



I put up painters plastic on the side walls cause they're unfinished (drywall) and left it.



As for the drain bit. All garages should be "pitched" to the rear so water drains out. Mine is pitched to the rear and to one side. I made a small barrier on that side so the water goes out the door and doesn't pool up in the corner.



Well this all may sound extreme but let me tell you, I tired the QEW thing and while I did like it, could not bring myself to just drop a wet mitt on a really dirty car, esp in the winter, so I was running to the coin-op to use their Pressure wand to hose the car down, but it would be no better by the time I drove 1/2 to get home.



And while we do have somewhat decent laser washes up here, when there was a break in the snowing (not often but it happens) the lines were around the block and they bays would be filthy with dirty snow up to the top of my snow boots. Esp from people running thier pick-up's with snow plows on them through despite signs saying not to do so.



Nope, I wash my car no differently in the winter than I do in the spring and summer, nice and toasty warm, and stick to the same regiment that keeps my Black Audi looking sharp.



You have to get creative sometimes when the resources aren't readily available.
 
I plan on keeping it simple... Taking a bucket and wash mitt to the coin op... I'll do an extensive rinse first to remove most of the salt/dirt particles and then a mild wash down and rinse... it's the winter... it's not going to be perfect... I'm not going to be adding any LSP (maybe just application of Z8 if the surface really comes clean)... My goal shifts from the show finish to keep all that crap off my finish till the spring gets here and I can do it right... :-]
 
Most of the time, I wash the car with QEW before the salt/grime can dry on the paint. The car gets the dirtiest when you drive through the snow/slush. But that means you have slush along with the salt on your car, and it will stay liquid well below 32*F. The salt concentration in the water allows for this. The salt won't dry on your car until the water evaporates, rather than freezes.



That's why I always try to wash the car after every snowfall (if I drove in it). I'd much rather wash liquid salt/grime off of the car twice than wash dried salt/grime off of the car once.
 
The Ultmate solution..............Move to AZ, there is no winter. 92 today.



No don't really, its too freakin dusty here, you'd hate it.
 
I usually use the touchless wand wash to take care of the snow, salt, ice & slush when a bucket wash cannot be done at home when the temps are < 30*.



When bucket washing is an option at home, I use common yellow find-em-in-the-cleaning-aisle Wal-Mart rubber gloves, a bucket of warm (not hot) wash water, and a bucket of warm rinse water . You'll be pleasantly surprised to find that your hands won't be nearly as cold if they're not wet & the gloves only cost $1.
 
I bought a winter beater for just this reason. lol!



Oh and to keep the salt/rust off of my pride and joy.



Though, after the transformation of the beater's paint, I don't know what I'll do!?!



Actually, my friend has a performance shop, where I do alot of my detailing, so I'll be able to use his shop for that. . .
 
COBRyan said:
I can still wear shorts and a T shirt in the winter sometimes when I wash my car :)
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Hey that don't count. He asked about winter as in Winter. Not winter like in winter.
 
what is the coldest temp you can apply another coat of wax?

im planning on doing another coat of IW in about 3 weeks time, i figure its gonna be in the 40's by then...is this too cold out for waxing?
 
I've waxed my car when it was below freezing. I didn't notice any real problems. I don't care anyway, I just like to wax my car every month! :)
 
I was in my garage also with QEW. I have a three car garage, so I have one of those "torpedo" heaters...does a nice job of warming it up. Out there in maybe a light sweatshirt and you are totally comfortable.



For keeping my hands warm, I found a sweet idea from a local outdoors place called Gander Mountain Outfitters. They have a set of neoprene (wetsuit material) hunters gloves that are 100% waterproof....can put your hands totally underwater and stay nice and dry. Cost $15.00
 
Hmm I have a pair of Neoprene fishing gloves (also from Gander Mtn) that I will have to try out. The problem is just that they only go up to your wrist. You're likely to get water in the gloves. Last winter I used rubber dishwashing gloves that went 4-5" past my wrist. Those were perfect.
 
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