A Way to Properly Wash Your Vehicle in Cold Climates

**ScottB** · 01-20-2011, 05:04 PM

Would you consider a rinseless product like ONR for washing, and just use booths spray to remove gunk and salt from undercarriage ???

**silverfox** · 01-20-2011, 05:12 PM

Great concept...I'd use a rinseless wash product instead which eliminates the need for detail spray to dry down with.

**StephenK** · 01-20-2011, 05:19 PM

in winter/cold weather i use the coin washes just to knock of the snow ice and heavy stuff. then bring car back home to garage to finish

**RaskyR1** · 01-20-2011, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by dougaross

I'll bet the person behind you in line is having a cow while he's waiting

That's why you go late at night or very early in the morning. The washes by me are actually open 24/7 and I've never had a car come up behind me.

**StephenK** · 01-20-2011, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by RaskyR1

That's why you go late at night or very early in the morning. The washes by me are actually open 24/7 and I've never had a car come up behind me.

car washes by me actually have signs up saying no bucket washing

**ewiesner** · 01-20-2011, 05:41 PM

My process is very similar, except I carry my water in old milk jugs as my buckets don't have lids. My local DIY car wash has sign posted "No bucket washing if customers are waiting". I go early or late and usually don't have a problem.

**RaskyR1** · 01-20-2011, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by detailgod

car washes by me actually have signs up saying no bucket washing

So do mine actually. At the end of the day the owner still knows that making $4-6 dollars off of you is better than not making any money at all. As long as you aren't keeping other people from using the bay there should be no issues. However, if there is someone waiting behind you, then the owner is loosing money as a result of you being there. The place I got to actually has 6 bays, and its rare that I ever see another car there after 10:00pm.

I actually had the owner talk to me for a while once as he was cleaning bays late at night. He mentioned the "no hand washing policy" but I was very polite and told him I only come late at night and that I would never hold up another car. He then proceeded to ask me why I chose to bucket wash vs. using all the pre-rinse and soap settings, so I explained it to him. After talking for a while he asked for my card as he thought he could get me some work.

Just respect them and be polite and I find it hard to believe they will care

Just my $.02

**ThirdgenTa** · 01-20-2011, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by detailgod

in winter/cold weather i use the coin washes just to knock of the snow ice and heavy stuff. then bring car back home to garage to finish

Hey any decent diy car washes you can recommend in Aurora. Im on the far east side.

**slickooz** · 01-20-2011, 07:40 PM

Try googling touchless car washes in your town, you should be able to find a few.

**jlb85** · 01-21-2011, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by slickooz

Always Great work! The video can be very helpful for many new comers and the regulars.
Going be working on 2 cars this Saturday and its going be in 21 degrees, can't wait till it gets warm again.

Originally Posted by integritydetail

Nice video Jacob, thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by DLB

You COLD weather guys are just hardcore.

Here in GA it just get's cold.

For me, it's the garage with ONR, 2 buckets of warm water, and a forced air propane heater.

DLB<----Pansy.

Originally Posted by ZimRandy

Luckily, we pushed our annual snowmobile trip back one week this year. Where we are going next week is going to be -36* tonight. 36 degrees below zero with windchills in the -50 to -60 degrees.

Forecast Conditions
High °F -4
Low °F -36

That is hardcore and my vehicles will stay dirty until it warms up.

Randy

Thanks, guys! Sounds like you all are dealing with the cold as well, even Dalton! Didn't it snow there a few days ago!? Bet no one washed their car

Originally Posted by RaskyR1

Awesome and very helpful video Jacob!

I was actually checking out Steven's youtube channel last night....that guy has mad skillz!

Thanks, Chad! I was reading your post in another thread about your cold weather process and how similar it is.

Steven always blows my mind with his pictures. I never expect it! I'll be shooting alongside him with my cheap-o A200, thinking I'm getting more or less the idea of the composition and stuff, just to compare and learn. But when the pictures are done they are so far from what I envisioned, so dramatically impressive, it is just remarkable. His pictures of the Detroit skyline are outstanding!