Washing with temps below freezing?

E

Egoolps

New member
It seems as if a lot of people on here insist on washing the car yourself, no matter what the temperature. Somehow, I don't believe these people live in cities where the temperature goes below 0 with the windchill (and even without the windchill).



I know hand car washes are dangerous. I see the wash mitts they use...washing the bottom of your car with the same mitt as the top.



However, what other option do I have?



I do NOT have a garage. I don't have any friends who live within 30 mins whose garage I could use either.



What is my next best option? Even if I go to a coin-op, I still have to soap the car and dry it. When it's below 0, the water freezes almost instantly.



Does anyone go to a hand car wash, but tell them NOT to scrub? For example, Platinum car wash has the suds fall from the top of the machine onto the car and also on the sides. I could always just tell them not to scrub, no?



I just think it's silly to try and handwash a car in below 0 weather. I love my car, and during the summer, I wouldn't let anyone touch it buyt me. But at some point you have to worry about your health. If I catch a cold and am out a week of work because of it, that missed money could've been spent on a full detail in the spring that could've eliminated all the scratches from a bad handwash.
 
I do it all winter long and I'm in Nova Scotia and the temperature gets very much below freezing. The best way? Very carefully and lots of very warm water.
 
I live in Toronto with well below water freezing temperatures for many months. I go to coin op car washes that use warm water. I then have two very large sealed wash buckets in my trunk also with warm water and my own soap. I first rinse the car and then when my time runs out i soap it up. Once I go over the car, I put in more money and rinse again with the "rinse" setting that is filtered and does not leave water spots. I choose not to dry as winter time usually leaves some dirt on the car somewhere and I dont like to risk marring during the dry process.



My new system that I plan to try this year is to go to the coin-op, rinse the car and then come home. Once home I will bring the car in the heated garage and go to town with a pesticide sprayer full of ONR and dual bucket system with ONR as well. I will see how this works out, i never thought i would jump on this product....but just too many people use it for it to be bad.
 
Downgear said:
My new system that I plan to try this year is to go to the coin-op, rinse the car and then come home. Once home I will bring the car in the heated garage and go to town with a pesticide sprayer full of ONR and dual bucket system with ONR as well. I will see how this works out, i never thought i would jump on this product....but just too many people use it for it to be bad.
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I have to insert my :nomore::nomore::nomore: here.



The water will freeze by the time you get back, leaving you with a terrible mess and you might not even be able to open your doors - even if the temperature is above 0.



One option is to take your car to an underground lot and wash with ONR there. Just bring your water with you.
 
Just got my new gallon of ONR for $33 shipping included. My second one. I will do mine and the wife's all winter long in the garage. I wll have over 3/4 left for detailing in 09.
 
Downgear said:
My new system that I plan to try this year is to go to the coin-op, rinse the car and then come home. Once home I will bring the car in the heated garage and go to town with a pesticide sprayer full of ONR and dual bucket system with ONR as well. I will see how this works out, i never thought i would jump on this product....but just too many people use it for it to be bad.
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This is pretty much what I do, however I don't do it when it is 25F or below. Luckily I live like 4 minutes away from a coin-op, I pressure wash there, bring it home, turn space heaters on in the garage, and in 15 or 20 minutes it is at least 40F in there, then ONR.



Water freezing is a non-issue, if there is any ice on the car by the time I get home, it gets melted in the garage quickly.
 
Showroom Shine said:
Just got my new gallon of ONR for $33 shipping included. My second one. I will do mine and the wife's all winter long in the garage. I wll have over 3/4 left for detailing in 09.
Click to expand...



That's a good price!! Where??
 
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