Winter washing

[waitingformsp]

I have noticed a lot of cold weather people on this website and just want to get everybody's opinion. What do you guys do to wash your car during the winter? I usually take mine to a quarter wash because when I went to a soft cloth car wash with my old car it left abrasion marks. It is getting way too cold here in Michigan to be washing a car yourself outside. Any opinions appreciated.

 

[SomaMP3]

well, i'm up here in canada and our quarter washes are actually loonie washes ($1).....i always make sure that i lightly water down the car first just to let it soak for a couple of minutes, then take the pressure washer to it. Stay away from automatic carwashes unless they're touchless.....also, if your taking it to the quarter wash, never, and i mean NEVER use the foam brush. Just because people use that brush for there tires as well and lots of salt and rocks get caught in the brush....hope that gives some help.

 

[Jim Frye]

Quarter car wash

The last time I went to the "quarter wash" here it took 6 quarters to run the machine for five minutes. I do mine in the garage with a heater going. Jim

 

[Newf]

I just go to my dealer every now and then and use thier wash bay after hours. I know them pretty well know thanks to the clunk

 

[Andyamo]

AH Yes, the scary foam brush. I find that without it, I can't get the car clean enough in the limited time I have at the coin-op. But, I agree, a well sodomised foam brush is a no-go.

My wash procedure:
a) Use high pressure soap all over to loosen up big stuff and take most of the dirt off
b) switch to rinse
c) BLAST the foam brush using the gun
d) with the foam brush nice n' clean, switch to foam and scrub-down
e) switch back to rince. Rince with remaining time, spray under the car, wheel wells and give the rad a good soak. I've stretched the live of my previous rads by years simply by keeping the salt off of them.

 

[Andyamo]

AH Yes, the scary foam brush. I find that without it, I can't get the car clean enough in the limited time I have at the coin-op. But, I agree, a well sodomised foam brush is a no-go.

My wash procedure:
a) Use high pressure soap all over to loosen up big stuff and take most of the dirt off
b) switch to rinse
c) BLAST the foam brush using the gun
d) with the foam brush nice n' clean, switch to foam and scrub-down
e) switch back to rince. Rince with remaining time, spray under the car, wheel wells and give the rad a good soak. I've stretched the live of my previous rads by years simply by keeping the salt off of them.

 

[Jay]

The foam brush is a BIG NO NO. My sister found that out the hard way. The brush scarched the hood of her new jeep. Sux to be her.

 

[AlaskaP5]

Up in AK, I take my P5 to the touchless wash. This is for two reasons. 1) Will never use a brush on my car from a quarter wash and
2) when it is below 10 degrees outside, the quarter washes never thaw out your entire car, so sometimes the doors will freeze shut very soon after washing the car. At the touchless, the whole car gets to thaw out so there is enough time to wipe down the door jams with a nice rag to guarentee no freezing of the doors.

 

[APEXistud]

Definately blast the foam brush with the high pressure gun before using it on your car. If you don't you, might end up with a bunch of little swirl marks in the spring time. I've only hand washed my MP3 and I only move my hanbd in the direction the thwe air travels over the surface of the area you are cleaning. This will mimize any swirls you may get.

 

[MazdaSpeed.ca]

Don't even risk it with that "sodomized brush" you'll end up another maroon with deep swirl marks from all angles on a otherwise nice car.


Solution:

1. Coin wash / Wand wash

Tools:

Good quality large cell wash sponge approx 12" by 6" (inches)
This piece is really important. Keep it super clean and if you drop it on the ground THROW IT AWAY and start with a fresh one.

1, 2 liter plastic Pepsi bottle with lid. For solution.

DuraWash (from the makers of DuraShine) with "Sheeting action" this is a great product for cleaning/cutting road film.

Clean terry cloth / bath towel

Large high quality shammy. Don't cheap out on this. A good shammy will last years and those small little ones are not worth the time and aggravation so get a LARGE one, you'll thank yourself.

Mothers wheel cleaner.

Procedure:

1. At home before you go to wash, mix the DuraWash into the plastic jug as per directions.

2. Hose the car off really good. Work from the top down. Pay attention to places grit can "hang around" like bottoms of window mouldings, sun roof seals, wiper blades against windshield. etc. I use 4-5 loonies($1 coins) on thgis part, I want ALL grit off the car before I lay anything on it to wash.

3. Spray the wheels/tires with wheel cleaner.

4. Pour some "wash" onto your sponge and starting on top wash the car, your removing road film. You do not need to press hard on it. Wash it like you were washing a piece of fine china.

5. Rinse the car with pure water (NOT wax setting).

6. Wipe the insides of your door jams, the trunk lip/lid and any other areas not directly on the outside of your car.

7. With the sheeting action in the DuraWash you now have very little shammying to do. Wipe up any water spots.

8. Wipe your rims with a clean old cloth, not your shammy. Clean this wheel rag often as wheel finishs will scratch as well.

Solution #2 : Touchless wash.

Tools:
Mothers wheel cleaner, towels.

Procedure:

1. Spray your rims rally good with wheel cleaner

2. Go into the station and pay for your wash token. Do this in under 5 mins so the wheel cleaner does not dry. Mothers will not harm your wheels if it does dry, just reapply.

3. Drive through the touchless wash. Some have high pressure water jets that shoot the undercarriage of the car. You will want to drive into the bay faster till your front wheels clear the underspray if you have a CAI hanging down there, use care.

4. Once the wash is done there is a dry off time. Most times there will be a seconds clock counting down just outside the exit door. This is the ammount of time there is in the drying cycle before it shuts off. Exit very very slow, you have 90 seconds, let the car blow off as much water as possible. DO NOT back up, as this will automatically shut off the "blow dryer" and your tail will still be damp.

5. Wipe up your door jams etc.

This is what I have found works good, your milage may vary, you may choose to use other products, techniques. Please keep in mind no animals have been harmed during these trials.