Help me not succumb to temptation

**Don M** · 12-01-2017, 03:15 PM

They recently installed a brand new touchless car wash less than a mile from my house. Temps here have been in the low 40's and too cold for this old man to wash his car ... even when using a bucket of hot soapy water. The result is a filthy, daily driven Camaro that is just horrendous to look at.

Part of me is saying, "Just leave it alone, it may be dirty, but you won't put swirls in it and the Ult Fast Finish will last longer not being exposed to the strong soaps of a touchless." The other part of me is saying, "IT'S DIRTY, USE THE TOUCHLESS, IT WON'T SWIRL THE PAINT .... you can use D115 on it after and add a little bit of protection."

Oh, the horror! I know it's WAY too cold to use ANY form of wax or sealant on it and I have no heated area to re-wax the car after going through the touchless.

What do I do!

**TTQ B4U** · 12-01-2017, 03:20 PM

Touchless is fine. Especially if your vehicle is sealed and or coated. I will run both of ours through one if it's nasty dirty and then will pull it in the garage to rinseless wash it. The only downside would be possible water spots from any residual water/soap being you have a black car.

**DBAILEY** · 12-01-2017, 03:25 PM

Go through the touchless when you can't take living with a filthy car anymore and hope that you have a nice enough day here and there throughout the winter where you can bucket wash the car.

**BJackson8** · 12-01-2017, 03:28 PM

I use the touchless a few times in the winter to knock the road salt off, but fortunately we only generally have only 4 or 5 winter storms a year. I'll do a rinseless wash when its in the 40's. I use a pair of the kitchen dishwashing gloves to keep my hands reasonably warm in the process.

I usually use 476S or FK 1000P as winter protection, and the soap at the touchless really doesn't seem to affect them to any noticeable extent.

**Don M** · 12-01-2017, 03:29 PM

http://countrycleancarwash.com/tallmadge-self-serve/

Here is the link to the car wash, of course I'm going "Bronze" because I have had the car undercoated and don't want it blasted by HP water

**Don M** · 12-01-2017, 04:09 PM

Well, I did it. Lots of suds & foam, lots of high pressure water (my car bounced around like a pinball) and high velocity air drying. All in all, not a bad job, it left a light film that can only be removed by "touching" the car, but nothing I would feel uncomfortable about using a Waterless Wash (and WW scare me).

**Hammer77** · 12-01-2017, 04:11 PM

I would want the under carriage blast. My car is not undercoated either, but would rather wash away as much as possible. Go silver IMO.

**Frank70** · 12-01-2017, 04:13 PM

Don - this is my plan for this winter. Go to the self serve in the evening and do a bucket wash and just use the self serve water. But been thinking about getting the WORX battery powered power wash and just do the bucket wash in the driveway (if not below freezing). I'm in my 70's and the cold and I don't get along very well.

**Hammer77** · 12-01-2017, 04:16 PM

sorry I see yours is undercoated.

**TTQ B4U** · 12-01-2017, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by Don M

I would feel uncomfortable about using a Waterless Wash (and WW scare me).

Do a modified version. Spray bottle or garden sprayer and a handful of fully soaked 480gsm rags. You'll be fine. I do mine all the time with zero issues. Key is to ensure you use light pressure, roll the rag as you wipe to ensure you're using a clean surface to wipe. When drying, use a damp towel, never a dry one.