Living in in New England along with the nastiest weather on the planet inspires car owners to be somewhat creative during the winter months. I've been using a tried and trued method for years that works quite well but with the advent of the new rinseless wash I now have an alternative.
What I try to do is keep the elements from doing damage to the finish by removing them weekly. I'd love to say I keep my vehicles looking like they do during the summer months but this is about survival and noting more.
I do put them in the garage and warm it up to dry and spray wax the exterior.
I've also listed a few products I use to prepare the finish for a long tough winter which is paramount in keeping the salt, sand, and harsh weather at bay.
Method 1
Items
- Clean 5 gallon bucket with lid
- Car wash soap
- Car washing brush or sponge
- Spray wheel & tire cleaner
- Wheel & tire brush
- $1 bills
- Waterproof gloves
Before heading to your local wash, mix up a solution of hot water and your favorite car wash soap. Place this and the other items securely in the back of your truck and you're ready to go.
At the car wash you'll want to use the high pressure water and NO SOAP. The idea is to blast off as much of those winter deposits as possible before soaping it down with your own solution, not theirs
Don't forget to do the undercarriage including the wheel wells... Clean the wheels and tires next.
Now wash your car or truck from the top down with your brush and soapy solution carefully going over each section several times then rinse with water only. Do this until the vehicle is nice and clean.
If you can, dry the exterior with a Microfiber guzzler towel..
Prerequisite
Preparing the finish to do battle with mother nature is extremely important so choose a quality sealant and wax and apply them in the fall.
Sealants
- .
- Menzerna Power Lock
- Klasse High Gloss Sealant
- Detailers Pro Poli-Coat Sealant
Wax
- Collinite 845
- Collinite 476
- Collinite 915
Coatings
Method 2
The new No Rinseless products are really amazing performers but don't wait until your car or truck becomes dirty enough so you can't tell its color.
Two products I use are
Optimum No Rinse and
Detailers Pro Series Rinseless Wash and Gloss. Of the two I personally find
Detailers Pro Series Rinseless Wash and Gloss the better of the two.
I mix the solution using hot water. This helps warm the panel making the cleaning and drying process much easier.
Use the solution with a wool mitt and soft car wash brush along with plenty of solution. I do each panel twice, once with the car wash brush and then with the wool mitt. Allow the product to work for you and don't force it otherwise you'll chance scratching the paint.
Keep 4 or 5 drying towels handy and dry each panel once it's complete then move on to the next.