How do you keep cool while detailing?

GregCavi

GregCavi

Pinnacle Detailing Owner
It has been high eighties and high humidity here in MN lately. That plus the 10 extra degrees the garage gives me makes a hellish detail every day. So what do you guys and gals do to keep cool or keep you concious while you detail?

I wear a bandana while i detail to keep the sweat off my face and drink water by the gallons. When i start to feel faint i take a 5 spot in the AC house and then back to work i go. With all the pollen and fuzzies blowing around i cant really have the garage door open becuase it would be a huge hassle. IF time allows I will go in my house and shower quick or do a thourough cleanup before returning it to my cusomters. I get very sweaty and gross while I detail so i like to have a good image when i return the vehicle.

Please Chime in Everyone!

Thanks

Greg
 
o0o man! tell me about it! this weather is horrible especially with the high humidity here fl. now im not for sure, but im sure u can always get a small ac and connect it in the garage. my mother told me that they had ac's that were electric without need for an exhaust. so ima make a trip tomorrow in search for that. other than that normally i just keep taking indoor a/c breaks.
 
I choose not to seek refuge in the AC cause it just makes the weather feel worse when you go back outside. I usually just suck it up and pound ice cold water and Propel. If it gets really bad take a cooler out with some ice water in it and put a few small hand towels in along with your water bottles and put them on your head and neck for a minute to two.
 
Take an old spray bottle that throws a really fine mist of product. Clean it out good, fill it water and keep it in the fridge when not in use. When you are detailing, give your head and neck a nice fine spray of the cool mist... you'll be surprised how much it helps. Sometimes I put mine in the freeze a little while before I start detailing to get the water ice cold. :bigups
 
Try wearing a thong :D j/k man. Since the body releases heat from the top of the head pour cool h2o over it while drinking tons of h2o and gatorade. Go to wally world and pick up a small fan to help out.
 
I agree! :D I do most of the above. Keep yourself hydrated. I cut my water @ 50/50 with Gatorade. I keep wet towels to put around my neck and on the inside of my wrists. I also wear a bandana (doo-rag) on my head and a hat with a brim. If you are in the garage, add a fan or two. It will surprise you how much difference it makes to have even warm air moving.

The spray bottle works. I don't use it myself, but when my daughter was in drill team we would mist the girls during the Labor Day parade while they marched on the concrete streets in 100o heat. There are also misting systems which operate on the same principle that can be installed outside in the patio area as well as spray bottles with a battery operated fan.

Try having a change of shirts for when you deliver the vehicle.
 
All very good points. I always change or do a good cleanup prior to delivery. It keeps things looking professional. GOod news too I found out that were getting a mini fridge for the garage! I will definatly have that thing stocked with water and gatorade. As well as soom spray bottles too.

Greg
 
yea just keep drinking is the best thing to do. working outside in the sun is horible.....i always have a gallon jug of water laying around even though its not cold after about 15 minutes i know i got to keep drinking so i dont get dehidrated.
 
WHen polishing get close to your polisher because it makes a breeze. Also when spraying car, allow water to spray on you. :D Just kidding. Lots of water and some breaks help. Along with praying for clouds
 
have u thought of just closing it while u do the carpets and interiors....those fuzzies wont do anyting to the outside of the car......that will get a breeze goin though for most of your detail then.
 
I took this from another detailing forum i belong too.....
I dont know about the rest of you, but its been warm in So. Cal for the last week or so. Details are all lined up for the remainder of the month. Several weeks ago, while out in Northridge , CA, I was detailing a white Mustang GT, it was very warm then, about 95 or so. And the sun was absolutely blistering on the skin. A couple weeks prior to this job, i had bought a EZ-up for detailing and RV'ing purposes, and i was sure glad i had it that day. I worked under that canopy for nearly 5 hours, and unless the sun is exactly 90 deg's up, which it wasnt, your still detailing in partial sun for the job, unless you move the car every 1/2 hr or so. I made sure to hydrate myself frequently, but the sun really sucks it right out of you,and who wants to work on a full stomach?! I probably should have taken better care of myself, had a lunch, popped a vitamin in the morning....but i really wanted to finish this job, due to ill affects of the sun. I finally finished, I was happy with the look i gave the GT, the owner came out and was real happy as well.......Then she wanted to chat for a bit..fine if your feeling ok, but i was really about ready to pass out. I was hungry, dehydrated, and kind of nausious.....We finished the discussion, and i was off like a prom dress to McDonalds for some Iced Tea.....I finally made it, sucked that tea down, and was 50% better in a matter of moments.....Now, a 40 mile drive home!!!!
My point is, detailing is difficult enough on its own, even on a gorgeous day, (mid 60's for me), but when it gets warm, it can really take a toll on your body. And when you get tired, and dehydrated, the total job suffers, as well as the body. When you have decided to devote several hours to your Mach, Cobra, GT, whatever it is you may drive, decide to wait for weather to be on your side. And if you insist on detailing in warm and/or humid weather, prepare yourself ahead of time. Get a good amount of sleep, and dont overindulge the night before. Alcohol really zaps the sytem of vitamins and minerals. Also consider a small investment in a EZ-up type canopy, to stay in the shade. Take frequent breaks, maintain hydration, and eat for energy! Im not a doctor, so i cant tell you exactly what to do, but im experienced, and can tell you what NOT to do!!
 
agree with the previous posts, I'd like to add soak a bandana in cold water & tie is loosely around your neck. Pretty significant part of your central nervous system is very close to the surface in your neck & keeping that cool helps keep your body comfortable.

Bandana around my head is a must, I sweat profusely and the dripping interferes with some product's application & removal.
 
Dr Groove said:
How much do those EZ-Ups cost? Any recomendations on where to buy them?

Thanks guys!
Click to expand...


I thought I saw them recently in a BJ's Wholesale Club for about $140 IIRC but don't quote me on that. If you have near you, I know Middlesex and Ocean County have one, see if they have them there.
 
My garage is atttached to my air conditioned house. The garage is insulated. I open the door that leads to the house and place a big fan to blow cool air out into the garage. It helps a lot.

I have a geothermal heat pump so my ac bill is really cheap. Someday I'll upgrade the system and the garage to include heat and ac from the geothermal system

If you have a chance check into geothermal heat & ac if building or changing systems, it is GREAT long term investment and very environmentally friendly. :hippi
 
Find a high BTU window AC unit, it doesnt even have to be in a window, set it on some concrete blocks or something. I picked up a 15,000(i think, ,maybe 12k) BTU AC unit at home depot for 200 bucks, keeps the garage pretty decent.

The water it will create will run out the garage anyways, not any different then pulling a wet car into the garage.
 
I try to avoid it as uch as possible. What usually works
for me is to to my job on an empty stomach, and only
drink water or gatorade. I wear a visor cap and wear
a bandana around my neck to wipe my brow. When
I don;t have the bandana, I'll grab one of my older
ww towels to wipe off with. Heck it does suck up
the moisture :lmfao

Mostly, I take my time, and don't rush to get the
job done, even when it's hot and humid. I find that
do a better job that way.
 
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