Hand Wand Self Serve Car Washes For the Winter

Bacon

Bacon

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With winter around the corner, washing the car will be limited to the HAND WAND SPRAY CAR WASHES...does anyone know if the soap/forming cycle strips the wax (like Dawn does).

I planned on soaping/foaming the car, washing with a microfiber mit, than rinsing and hoping that my Fall Protection Sealant (Opti-Seal--->Optimum Spray Wax) will survive.

any thoughts greatly welcomed...thanks!
 
Bacon said:
With winter around the corner, washing the car will be limited to the HAND WAND SPRAY CAR WASHES...does anyone know if the soap/forming cycle strips the wax (like Dawn does).

I planned on soaping/foaming the car, washing with a microfiber mit, than rinsing and hoping that my Fall Protection Sealant (Opti-Seal--->Optimum Spray Wax) will survive.

any thoughts greatly welcomed...thanks!
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Some self-serve car washes may have "better" chemicals, including water, than others. Usually, though, most of the soap-chemicals utilized at car washes (of any type) can be detrimental to waxes, IMO.

-What I do...I will take my own buckets, car wash shampoo. wash mitt.
-Then...I'll use their rinse-only-water to initially pressure spray down the vehicle with the wand; and, then fill-up my buckets...one with shampoo solution, the other one with rinse water.
-Proceed with washing/rinsing...two bucket method
-Final rinse with a rinse-only-wand-water sheeting method.
-Dry vehicle.
-Check the "brass-area" every so often for signs of freezing. :D


-It's nice to find a self-serve bay with operable overhead doors to help keep out the elements.

-Some folks will take their own water supply.

-Sometimes it's just too daggone cold, too.

Removal of: Salt/slush/other-winter-road-crud, as soon as humanly possible, is the goal that I aim for.


-Other AGO forum members will surely chime in with their own methods.


:)

Bob
 
I have found that each car wash place uses different soap solutions. Some will strip your wax off quickly. My preferred method is to take a bucket (5-gal.) with my own soap, spray the vehicle then use the soap to get as much of the old dirt off then spray it good then take it home for a ONR wipe down. Sometimes if not too dirty ONR will be all thats needed till it gets above freezing that you can wash without freezing.
 
If you have a garage I would go to the do-it-yourself car wash, spray as much debris off your car as possible with just the water then drive home and do an ONR or someother rinseless wash.

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shoeless89 said:
If you have a garage I would go to the do-it-yourself car wash, spray as much debris off your car as possible with just the water then drive home and do an ONR or someother rinseless wash.

Sent from my DROID Pro using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


Good ideas. :xyxthumbs: But, the OP (Bacon) originally stated:

....."washing the car will be limited to the HAND WAND SPRAY CAR WASHES".

That's why I didn't include what you have suggested in my earlier reply. Perhaps Bacon will take them under consideration though.

Thanks for your post!

:)

Bob
 
Why not just by a power washer and maybe a foam cannon?
 
I wait for a non peak hour and bring my buckets to the self wash. I wash it like I do in my driveway. Even hand dry it lol.
 
Why people bring their cars to the self wash bays, if they going bring buckets? Why not do it in your own drive way?

Going there just for the pressure washer?
 
slickooz said:
Why people bring their cars to the self wash bays, if they going bring buckets? Why not do it in your own drive way?

Going there just for the pressure washer?
Click to expand...

Because the driveway is full of snow and slush, and it's cold and windy usually. It's just nicer to be in a covered space with no wind and snow. And the pressure washer is nice too since mine is put away for the winter.
 
Oh, I just never thought of washing my car when their snow on road. I only wash it when all the snow had melted and roads are dry.

+1 for wind coverage.
 
tw33k2514 said:
Because the driveway is full of snow and slush, and it's cold and windy usually. It's just nicer to be in a covered space with no wind and snow. And the pressure washer is nice too since mine is put away for the winter.
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Plus you don't have to worry about your driveway freezing over afterwards.
 
I usually will spray off heavy stuff like slush, or built up snow in wheel wells. Then I head to a very close touchless wash...except I bring some of my own prep chemicals. I'll spray the wheel wells, use some wheel cleaner, and APC trouble spots. I'll bring it through the touchless, then bring it inside my shop for an ONR wash.

The touchless is to just remove MOST of the crap. Usually does a pretty decent job. Only problem is...when I drive away, sometimes it freezes up pretty quick. But, that's why I make sure my wood stove is going at the shop before I even leave. It thaws out real quick.
 
It's rare that we will be below freezing all day. Here is what I've been doing for three months, and will continue through winter. Wash at the spray wash with "rinse" setting only (no soap). Drive back to the apartment. Most of the water is gone, but some remains. Waterless wash, and dry.
 
brother i lived in barrington for 2 yrs and went crazy because i couldnt have a clean car. snow from tkgiving to memorial day in some fashion so i just used a car wash to keep the salt off. in the late spring the car looked like it had been sanded with 2000 wet grit so i moved south! dont think there is any good answer.

budinsc
 
slickooz said:
Why people bring their cars to the self wash bays, if they going bring buckets? Why not do it in your own drive way?

Going there just for the pressure washer?
Click to expand...

When it is below zero days on end...that's about the only alternive left.

Bill
 
I don't really have a garage to work in during the winter. I guess I'm gonna just end up using car wash bays and take advantage of any good weathered weekends for a quick detail. I plan on putting on a layer of Collinite 845 before the snow starts to really fall. Do you guys think I should add another layer of Collinite on, or will one last me the winter?
 
lokichaos said:
I don't really have a garage to work in during the winter. I guess I'm gonna just end up using car wash bays and take advantage of any good weathered weekends for a quick detail. I plan on putting on a layer of Collinite 845 before the snow starts to really fall. Do you guys think I should add another layer of Collinite on, or will one last me the winter?
Click to expand...
I would do two coats just for the sake of good coverage.
 
slickooz said:
Why people bring their cars to the self wash bays, if they going bring buckets? Why not do it in your own drive way?

Going there just for the pressure washer?
Click to expand...

City-livin'. No hose or driveway. ONR is my best friend, but for the heavier messes because of road treatments...got to get to the tunnel.
 
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