A Way to Properly Wash Your Vehicle in Cold Climates

**jlb85** · 01-21-2011, 12:49 AM

Originally Posted by Mister B

Nice how to video.

I would not usually be able to that around here because there is usually another vehicle in line behind me waiting to use the wash bay and the car washes all have signs stating no bucket washing while other customers are waiting.

That would be a nice way to properly wash your vehicle in the winter if you can do it, though.

Originally Posted by dougaross

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

Originally Posted by Bobby B.

Great video! I like how he explained all of the products in the beginning of the video. Most of these DIY car wash places have signs posted (No Bucket Washing).

Originally Posted by detailgod

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

Originally Posted by Bobby B.

It's 25 degrees out. lol I'm sure there is nobody waiting

Exactly! At least not lining up for it

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.

Originally Posted by ewiesner

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.

Originally Posted by RaskyR1

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

Exactly, also! The trick is not to keep anyone waiting. If while I'm working on the truck, for instance, I get someone behind waiting, I'll finish up promptly and/or move over to the next bay, or make the line again. Kinda etiquette I guess. But going at odd times always works for me. Sunday mornings is perfect.

**jlb85** · 01-21-2011, 01:00 AM

Originally Posted by killrwheels@autogeek

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

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

Absolutely. If the temp is below 25, even with HOT water used to wash, freezing before it dries is a problem. These bays get quite a breeze going through them. In such cases I would spray down the "grueso" with just the rinse water, then ONR back inside somewhere. But if you don't have a garage to use even ONR becomes difficult to work with. But I would rather have frozen ONR than frozen salty, dirty ice on my paint for sure!

Originally Posted by silverfox

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

We use it more as a protection product, a layer of sealant that goes on quick and easy at these temps. The Red Mist Tropical is probably the shiniest, silkiest of spray products. Its high solvent content make it easy to use at low temps. But it definitely takes care of any drying streaks. Other than RMT I would probably use Opti-Seal or a spray wax per se, again, with protection in mind more than perfection applying it.

**MI Mike** · 01-21-2011, 07:40 AM

I can feel your pain. Those plastic (nitrile) gloves are cold. I found that if I must wash in that temp. I will use a pair of dishwashing gloves with a pair of canvas gloves inside for warmth, you buy the next larger size. The long yellow ones. So your girlfriend is a UM student/grad ??? FYI when talking about washbays there is a self carwash up north (Petoskey), that has garage doors on their bays that you can close. They also installed heaters that you can use. Keep filling the slots with quarters while washing and keep warm. Nice idea that others could follow, etc. Question? What day did you finally thaw out.

**Mister B** · 01-21-2011, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by MI Mike

there is a self carwash up north (Petoskey), that has garage doors on their bays that you can close. They also installed heaters that you can use. Keep filling the slots with quarters while washing and keep warm.

Now that would be nice. None of those type car washes around here.

**ZimRandy** · 01-21-2011, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by jlb85

Exactly, also! The trick is not to keep anyone waiting. If while I'm working on the truck, for instance, I get someone behind waiting, I'll finish up promptly and/or move over to the next bay, or make the line again. Kinda etiquette I guess. But going at odd times always works for me. Sunday mornings is perfect.

Yep.

As long as there are quarters in and the meter is running, the owner doesn't care. If you are just taking your time and your money has run out, then he is losing money if someone is waiting.

I can usually wash the car with two buckets faster than the person next to me banging the wall mounted brush off of their car can.

Oh yeah, -27 degrees this morning!

Randy

**PAR Detailing** · 01-21-2011, 09:32 AM

Great video, that will really help out alot of people. And it shows the proper 2bm.

I should have videoed the guy I was behind the other day, he didnt wet the vehicle down at all. He grabbed the brush there started scrubbing left and right and then rinsed it off.

**Kaban** · 02-03-2011, 04:44 PM

I just don't even bother to touch my cars in the winter....too much of a hassle even though I have a garage.

I usually just clay my cars and put some Collinite 476 before the cold weather and that easily gets me through these crazy Chicago winters. I have to say.... this winter has been the worst by far, we got over 2 feet of snow last night!

**StephenK** · 02-03-2011, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by Kaban

I just don't even bother to touch my cars in the winter....too much of a hassle even though I have a garage.

I usually just clay my cars and put some Collinite 476 before the cold weather and that easily gets me through these crazy Chicago winters. I have to say.... this winter has been the worst by far, we got over 2 feet of snow last night!

collinite is a life saver for us that live in this type of nasty weather.

**JohnnyC** · 02-03-2011, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by Bobby B.

Great video! I like how he explained all of the products in the beginning of the video. Most of these DIY car wash places have signs posted (No Bucket Washing).

Tried it once and they through me out. Great idea if they let you.

**Wendell Jarvis** · 02-03-2011, 07:28 PM

I do this from time to time in the Winter....I even take my 2-.... 5 gallon bukets with me, and Megs Gold Class Shampoo....just becareful that the owner is not around.....thanks to me there are now Signs Posted " No Hand Washing" left my mark on this town !!