Winter wash dilemma, need suggestions

Meticulous-Detail

Meticulous-Detail

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So we have been getting hammered with low temps and snow in the NE. Today is 29 and sunny, the dilemma is as follows:

13 Charger RT Black top and 13 Durango RT Black top daily drivers both parked outside, both filthy with snow and salt from NYC streets. Currently wearing DG501/601 and topped with D156 after every wash. Only have access to hand car washes and swirl-o-matics, no coin operated self service bays and no drains in garage to wash it myself. Hand wash does not use power washer to remove bulk of salt and dirt, swirl-o-matic does use power washer.

Last wash took both of them to hand wash and they scratched the painted wheels with too much pressure and dirty towels. So what do I do? Leave them till I can wash them, swirl-o-matic with power washer, hand wash with no power washer? Any suggestions?
 
Same problem here in Michigan. Sadly just leave it until you can do it right. I hate how my car looks, but I don't want to have a 16 hour correction come spring thanks to taking it to scratch tunnels all winter long.
 
I will echo the 2 above. Here it's been too cold to even go to the touchless (the paint gets too cold before I can even get there and its only 5 blocks away). I hate it too, but I am just leaving it until it gets at least above 25 or so. Then I can do touchless or coin-op followed by RW. Even when it does warm up, I have to wait a few days for the snow to melt off the streets too. Very frustrating, but I'm counting on my Coll 845 to get me through to spring.
 
1. most garages slope down to allow water to drain.. I use a rubber push squeegee to push most water out.
2. Propane tank from grill and heating element attached heats my 2 car to about 65-70 easily
3. ONR... pretreat/spray with ONR in a pressurized sprayer and you will be good

Where there is a will there IS a way!
 
Oh man this sucks! I do detailing part time and would just love to open a hand wash utilizing power washers, foam guns/cannon, grit guards, leaf blowers and quality MF towels. Nobody has a place like this by me. Have the know how and capital but no time and no place.
 
1.5 car garage, Shelby Mustang in garage and small heater. If I move the Shelby it will get dirty. Driveway is 2 car wide and I would have to put Shelby in street with snow to move cars around.
 
swanicyouth said:
Leave it until you can wash it right.
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:xyxthumbs: Good advice. My xterra has really taken a beating with this PA winter. I have both coin-op and brushless washes near by, but choose not to use them. As long as you have a good LSP on and good sealant on the glass/wheels, let them do the work. I wait till till the weather breaks and do a proper hand wash/detail. Then i finish up with prima hydro wax as you dry for more protection. Done.
 
All one can really do is wait...

Or if it's a sunny day and close to freezing then it will be above freezing in the sun... So if that's so then take a hose with a high pressure nozzle and spray it down knocking most of it off. Let it sit awhile wet then spray down again really good.

The water won't freeze because it's in the sun and you won't have to touch the car since you are just knocking most of the dirt off.

Just make sure it's in the sun and the temp is right around freezing or above.

If one has a foam gun even better, but don't touch the car just foam and rinse.

It will keep it reasonable until it warms up.
 
jankerson said:
You guys up north are really getting hammered this year...

I am so glad I don't live up there anymore, moved to NC back in 1995. :)
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You had to go there. I have this convo everyday with the wife. I job affords me the luxury of transferring to other parts of the US and I have gotten on my hands and knees and begged.
 
Meticulous-Detail said:
You had to go there. I have this convo everyday with the wife. I job affords me the luxury of transferring to other parts of the US and I have gotten on my hands and knees and begged.
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The really funny thing is I hate NC for various reasons and am thinking about moving to Montana or Wyoming..... :)

There isn't enough money to get me to move to NY though......
 
jankerson said:
The really funny thing is I hate NC for various reasons and am thinking about moving to Montana or Wyoming..... :)

There isn't enough money to get me to move to NY though......
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Let's not get into an argument, but I hate NYC more then you hate NC lol. I am even tired of hearing myself complain about it.
 
When we were in our townhouse, I had the same issue. I would put soap/water mix in a pressurized sprayer, mitts, and drying towel and go to the car wash. I only used it for the sprayer. I'd spray it down really really well. Lay down soap and wash with mitts. I had 4 mitts. Rinse again really well. Dry. It is a afar cry from 2 bucket, but I would literally rinse for 5 minutes at least. I'd carry wheel cleaner too if they were bad. Oh and I'd wet mitts well before using.
 
Meticulous-Detail said:
Let's not get into an argument, but I hate NYC more then you hate NC lol. I am even tired of hearing myself complain about it.
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I'm with the both of you guys, I grew up in SC and live in NJ. I miss the nice weather and easy living of the south, but the money sucks. I wish I could make the same money somewhere else and not have to deal with snow.
 
EddieF said:
I'm with the both of you guys, I grew up in SC and live in NJ. I miss the nice weather and easy living of the south, but the money sucks. I wish I could make the same money somewhere else and not have to deal with snow.
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Oh the money does really suck unless one is a Doctor or something.... Other than that, well it all left years ago.... The State ran all of the good paying jobs away.... The companies come in for a very short time then bale out.... The pay is around 30% or more under what it should be on ave and the cost of living is the same as other states up North.... yeah it really sucks.....

Other than the Medical field it's really bad....
 
I don't have the issue of $$$ because I keep my grade and step if I transfer and just take a hit on the cost of living adjustment for the geographic region. If I sell my house I can probably make enough $$$ where I would have little or no mortgage.
 
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