Winter Detailing

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mcpp66

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Okay, I know I've asked this before but I can't find the old thread so I'll ask it again. For those of you that don't have a garage for your daily driver, how do you care for it in the winter? The only option I'm seeing is to drive through one of those touchless car washes. Unfortunately I can't put on a fresh coat of wax or sealant with the weather being well below 50 degrees. What do you guys do this time of the year?
 
Seal the car before winter, and the rinseless washes and spray wax to maintain.
 
tw33k2514 said:
Seal the car before winter, and the rinseless washes and spray wax to maintain.
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:iagree: My car pretty much just toughs it out until it gets warm enough (above freezing) to rinseless wash it again
 
Sometimes it's too cold for a rinseless wash though? Plus in the winter time the car's usually too dirty for that.
 
mcpp66 said:
Sometimes it's too cold for a rinseless wash though? Plus in the winter time the car's usually too dirty for that.
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If the car is really dirty. I go to the coin-op car wash and just use the pressure washer to knock the heavy stuff off. Then I do an ONR wash.

As far as it being to cold. I have done rinseless washes down to 20 degrees. Just have to use hot water, move fast, and wear gloves.
 
If the weather isn't too bad, you can try ONR with VERY HOT water. If you have a power washer, I would use it if the car is filthy. Then use ONR on car and from top to bottom.
 
The ONLY merit to a one car garage is that it would be too much to ask my wife to negotiate the tight squeeze required for ingress and egress, therefore MY car gets the garage heehee. :D Had errands to run tonight, we took the wife's car. Cleaned the windows before we left. It was raining tonight. When we got back took a bucket of warm ONR and a bunch of MF towels. Fold into eighths, one swipe per side of the wipe. Don't have to bother with drying because of rain, and all the nasty stuff down low is off the paint. If it stops raining before the car goes out again, cleanup will take no more time than quick detailing clean paint. I hosed the driveway off the night before so bouncing raindrops won't bring mud surprise to car's nether-regions.

Ok, around here rain usually warms things up in winter. I know most of you have nasty coldness that would probably send me into hibernation before I could reach my garage. Well not really...I do have some cold coping skills. HERE'S a trick that will let you shrug off the rain. Get yourself a wetsuit 1/8" or 2-3mm neoprene. Wear it UNDER your clothes. Go and play in the rain. You will look wet but you will stay warm. You can thank me later.
 
tw33k2514 said:
If the car is really dirty. I go to the coin-op car wash and just use the pressure washer to knock the heavy stuff off. Then I do an ONR wash.

As far as it being to cold. I have done rinseless washes down to 20 degrees. Just have to use hot water, move fast, and wear gloves.
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I thought about that.......but the coin-op car wash will probably destroy the wax protection on my car. But I guess the current weather and road salt have probably already done that.
 
I do two coats of a sealant in August and then that has to get my truck by till early May. If I'm lucky enough, like this year, I can hand wash my truck over thanksgiving or christmas break and apply a spray wax/sealant.

Otherwise my truck just toughs it out with being dirty or using the touchless car washes.
 
I usually hit up the touch-less car wash to get most of the nasty off. I just purchased some ONR though and am looking forward to giving it a try! I just want it to get a *little* warmer before I head out.
 
mcpp66 said:
Okay, I know I've asked this before but I can't find the old thread so I'll ask it again. For those of you that don't have a garage for your daily driver, how do you care for it in the winter? The only option I'm seeing is to drive through one of those touchless car washes. Unfortunately I can't put on a fresh coat of wax or sealant with the weather being well below 50 degrees. What do you guys do this time of the year?
Click to expand...

Don't know your location, but this has been quite a crazy, mixed-up, topsy-turvy winter where I live.

Last night we were pelted with an ice-storm followed by a couple of inches of snow, with -5 wind chill. Tomorrow it's supposed to be 50 F with thunderstorms and a tornado watch.

In fact, a couple of minutes ago, I spotted two Flying-V formations of Canadian Geese flying over my house....Flying North!!

Just my opinion, I know, but it's kinda hard to get a handle on a correct approach to creature-comfort when contending with this kind of "winter", let alone the correct approach to car-care.

My posting may not be of avail...But I look at it as: Just a reminder that some good ideas have already been presented/suggested from this forum's members for your consideration...I know I utilize some of them...Of course, it's your choice to do so, or not.

:)

Bob
 
I just go to the coin op. And when I have time follow with ONR and spray wax.
 
mcpp66 said:
Okay, I know I've asked this before but I can't find the old thread so I'll ask it again. For those of you that don't have a garage for your daily driver, how do you care for it in the winter? The only option I'm seeing is to drive through one of those touchless car washes. Unfortunately I can't put on a fresh coat of wax or sealant with the weather being well below 50 degrees. What do you guys do this time of the year?
Click to expand...

Back in November both DD's got a coat of Megs cleaner wax and Collonite 476s. Both of them go thru the local touchless car wash about every 2 weeks. I use Ultima Waterless Wash and Megs Synthetic Xpress Spray Wax or DG AW to maintain.

I use the WW after each wash to add gloss and get any missed spots and I use the Megs SXSW or DG AW once a month.
 
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