Washing car in cold weather climates

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DEXTERITY

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Greetings,

In a few weeks, I will finally have a house and a way to hand wash my car. Previously, I had to use the evil local car wash.

I live in North Jersey. For those of you who get cold winters, how do you handle washing your car by hand in the winter time?

I assume the hose freezes or it isn't a good idea to run the water from the valve when it's near or below freezing?

I'm familiar with a waterless wash, but for some reason don't like the idea. I would assume even that type of liquid would freeze? I'm trying to figure out the best way to get the salt off when it snows and wash my car in general in the winter time without using a car wash.

If it is 37 degree's is it ok to run the water? I know water freezes at 32 but I'm not familiar with the ins and outs of houses and water valves in houses when it comes to cold temperatures.

Lastly, for those who have a garage, do the car cleaning products freeze in the winter time if left in the garage? Sounds dumb, but I'm moving from a condo where I didn't have any of those amenities :)

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
Car waxes will freeze. Every product you buy should have a recommended temp to be stored at. What I did at my house in Detroit was have I plummer install a hot water spicket from water heater. he could even do it in garage.make sure to do simple water proofing before spraying in garage.I think it cost me around $250. well worth the investment!
 
wheelman302 said:
Car waxes will freeze. Every product you buy should have a recommended temp to be stored at. What I did at my house in Detroit was have I plummer install a hot water spicket from water heater. he could even do it in garage.make sure to do simple water proofing before spraying in garage.I think it cost me around $250. well worth the investment!
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The hot water spigot is a great idea!Im the MAN
 
not much you can do. sucks. all my stuff will be comming in shortly. the spicket gets shut off. WINTER. but when it gets above 32 i do a wash when its decent out. if i win the lottery, full heated garage with drains. then the weather does not play a part.
 
Congratulations on your new house!

I live in a townhouse in Somerset with a single car garage. While I don't have room for a car anymore (too many woodworking tools, motorcycle, tool boxes), I have a 1/4 turn ball valve water spigot inside the garage next to the door going in the house.

But the best addition was quick connect fittings, similar to air compressor fittings, that go on the hose and the spigot. The two piece set came from Home Depot and was about $5.50.

Now I quickly hook up when I'm ready and when I'm done I disconnect the hose and roll it up, helping the water drain out f the hose as I go. I don't mind putting the hose away anymore.
 
I live in Northern New Jersey as well. I still use cold water spigot I just simpl turn the outlet on andvoffvas needed. I remove the nozzle on the hose and roll up to make sur that the water is out and hang on hook. When washing I do panels at a time and immediately dry with mf.

Another alternative is to use the self serv units. I bring my buckets, car wash and brushes and do it there at off hours. This way the owner doesn't complain. I dry it completely and go home and do my next steps.

Ed
 
I live in Omaha Nebraska and I'm in a similar situation--that is, moving into a house next month for the first time. It gets cold here too and I'm planning on doing ONR washes with warm water inside the garage, whenever it's not REALLY cold.

Has anyone used ONR in this manner? I forsee drying possibly being a bit of a pain, but other than that I'm hoping it will work just fine.
 
I sometimes hit the drive thru ones that have no brushes in them. They squirt the undersides as you drive in and that wand thing goes around the car 3 or 4 times. Then when I get home I will pull in the garage and finish the details.

Now that I built my garage AND installed the hot and cold water spouts I just do it all in there with the heater on. If the water freezes out side your garage door just use some of the synthetic salt stuff from HD or Lowes to get rid of it.
 
IN your garage ONR and warm water and MF to dry with will work just fine
 
I live in Bergen County NJ and wash my truck once a week during the winter and summer. Yeah the hose and your hand freeze but i just get it over with. Remember to give yourself enough time before washing to let the hose un freeze.
 
The only problem I have with ONR or any rinseless/waterless wash is: my car gets REALLY filthy in the snow. I mean road grime, the salt, sand, etc...anyone who lives with snow/winter driving knows what I mean. I don't care what any manufacturer states...they could claim their product encapsulates the dirt in foam peanuts, I wouldn't risk cleaning my car with it. It just gets way to dirty. As a result, unless you are lucky enough to have a heated garage with drains, you really have but two choices...touchless or a much better alternative, as Eandras pointed out, self serv (provided the owner is cool with bucket of tools and product)
 
dcjredline said:
I sometimes hit the drive thru ones that have no brushes in them. They squirt the undersides as you drive in and that wand thing goes around the car 3 or 4 times. Then when I get home I will pull in the garage and finish the details.

Now that I built my garage AND installed the hot and cold water spouts I just do it all in there with the heater on. If the water freezes out side your garage door just use some of the synthetic salt stuff from HD or Lowes to get rid of it.
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The problem for me with touchless washes is that either they don't work, or the chemicals are so strong that it takes your lsp off after 1 or 2 washes.

I've worked at a carwash for six years. It is truly a top of the line carwash-unlike I've seen very often , even when traveling in other states. It's touchfree, and it WILL absolutely get even the dirtiest of cars clean, but it will remove wax after 1 or 2 washes, which kind of defeats the purpose of using it, unless you use it often (which we have many customers that do).
 
LF911PCR said:
The only problem I have with ONR or any rinseless/waterless wash is: my car gets REALLY filthy in the snow. I mean road grime, the salt, sand, etc...anyone who lives with snow/winter driving knows what I mean. I don't care what any manufacturer states...they could claim their product encapsulates the dirt in foam peanuts, I wouldn't risk cleaning my car with it. It just gets way to dirty. As a result, unless you are lucky enough to have a heated garage with drains, you really have but two choices...touchless or a much better alternative, as Eandras pointed out, self serv (provided the owner is cool with bucket of tools and product)
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Yeah I agree with your feelings about cars being too filthy no matter what a manufacturer states. I'll probably spend 2 bucks and just use water, and water ONLY, at a DIY place if it gets that dirty, then bring it home and ONR it. :)
 
That is why I stated that I used them and went home to finish the detail. I think once every two weeks its much better in a freezing garage to stand there puttin on a spray wax type chemical than it is doing a full car wash wouldnt you agree?
 
dcjredline said:
That is why I stated that I used them and went home to finish the detail. I think once every two weeks its much better in a freezing garage to stand there puttin on a spray wax type chemical than it is doing a full car wash wouldnt you agree?
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Are you speaking to me?

I was talking to 911... but anyways, as long as the car isn't that dirty (and if it is rinising it at a DIY wash first) then I would ONR it in the garage, not sure if that constitutes a "full wash" to you or not, but with warm water I think it will work out great, so long as it's not 15 degrees inside the garage.
 
StuDLei said:
The problem for me with touchless washes is that either they don't work, or the chemicals are so strong that it takes your lsp off after 1 or 2 washes.

I've worked at a carwash for six years. It is truly a top of the line carwash-unlike I've seen very often , even when traveling in other states. It's touchfree, and it WILL absolutely get even the dirtiest of cars clean, but it will remove wax after 1 or 2 washes, which kind of defeats the purpose of using it, unless you use it often (which we have many customers that do).
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Uhhh, yes you did reply to my message. I was talking about this post. If it does strip the LSP then when you get home just take 20-30 mins to put another LSP on. Much better than sitting out in a cold garage over an hour washing with water.
 
DEXTERITY said:
Greetings,

In a few weeks, I will finally have a house and a way to hand wash my car. Previously, I had to use the evil local car wash.

I live in North Jersey. For those of you who get cold winters, how do you handle washing your car by hand in the winter time?

I assume the hose freezes or it isn't a good idea to run the water from the valve when it's near or below freezing?
Click to expand...

Welcome to the cold belt!

Taking care of your car or truck in the winter can be quite challenging, unless you live in sunny Florida or someplace equally as warm.

Running water through a hose or valve at these temperatures will not harm them.

While inexpensive hoses fall victim to freezing temperatures more expensive hoses tolerate it quite well. Draining the hose once the job is complete is a way to eliminate problems or simply take it in where it's warmer. Occasionally I'll have an outside faucet freeze and it usually pops the screw inside and once it and the ribber washers replaced it's good as new.

Also, most homes today are fitted with freeze proof outside faucets.

DEXTERITY said:
I'm familiar with a waterless wash, but for some reason don't like the idea. I would assume even that type of liquid would freeze? I'm trying to figure out the best way to get the salt off when it snows and wash my car in general in the winter time without using a car wash.
Click to expand...

While they seem to work, I'm not overly enthusiastic with waterless washes. If I must use an alternative approach to conventional washing I do a rinseless wash.

Products like DP Rinseless Wash and Gloss or Optimum No Rinse are great examples of rinseless washes. When I am forced to use them then I mix them with hot water and use a soft wool mitt for applying the solution.

I pre-soak the panel and let the product soften and dissolve contamination and dirt. Soak the mitt then lightly wash the panel flooding it and let the soiled water flow to the ground below.

Clean the mitt against the grit guard then wash the panel a second time ensuring that it clean and free of contaminates.

While the panel is warm, dry with a waffle weave drying towel like Cobra's Guzzler...

DEXTERITY said:
If it is 37 degree's is it ok to run the water? I know water freezes at 32 but I'm not familiar with the ins and outs of houses and water valves in houses when it comes to cold temperatures.
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You can run the water at 20 degrees. Moving water requires much colder temperatures to begin forming ice crystals. Your biggest concern would be icing once it hits the cold ground. This is where slips and falls become a hazard.

DEXTERITY said:
Lastly, for those who have a garage, do the car cleaning products freeze in the winter time if left in the garage? Sounds dumb, but I'm moving from a condo where I didn't have any of those amenities :)

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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The rule I follow is; If a product, liquid or paste, touches the paint then don't allow it to freeze. These products also represent a great deal of money and freezing could ruin them making them worthy of the trash....
 
dcjredline said:
Uhhh, yes you did reply to my message. I was talking about this post. If it does strip the LSP then when you get home just take 20-30 mins to put another LSP on. Much better than sitting out in a cold garage over an hour washing with water.
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The surface isn't going to be anywhere near lsp ready after a drive home in the winter; it would need washed again.

An ONR Wash takes about 20 minutes or so depending how dirty the car is and how thorough you are.
 
Being in Michigan and away from home for the majority of winter, my only options are automatic touchless washes and the DIY places. DIY car washes I just use the rinse cycle, and the touchless washes don't seem to degrade my LSP much at all.

At home in the winter, I'll do ONR in the driveway with warm water. Weather permitting though.
 
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