How do you wash your car in winter? Where do you go?

[Eken9]

Any different procedures for anyone?

I was thinking of touchless car washes but the pressure is too harsh and it strips wax like nothing. (Might not be all)

Also, I've noticed the hand pressure wash place I go to (16th ave 68st) use very harsh chemicals thus also stripping wax, but not as bad as the touchless. I've been going there for many years and never had a problem until a few months ago.

Where do you bring your car? Where you've had good a experience? Do you wait until a certain temperature?

[Lucky97]

in the winter i wash my car at least once or twice a week. and i go to the big bucket just off pegin and 25th in the se i think

[shin0bi]

My ex washed her car during the winter and it got really cold really fast and froze her door shut leaving her to be stranded and me to laugh hysterically...

..thus one of many reasons why we are no longer together. hehe


I usually just wait for a mild day and go through a touchless car wash close to home, and then make sure it dries off REALLY well, then I'll grab a rag and go over the trim to catch any excess before it gets a chance to ice. I've really noticed a difference in how quickly rust forms when I do that.

[GQBalla]

I just wash it as normal if I'm at a bay and its not busy ill hand dry quick.

If not ill go to esso car wash touchless and let the big dryer take care of it

[n1zm0]

normal wash @ a pay-a-dollar pressure wash place and i put a piece of scotch tape on my the door lock cylinders, i've ran into way too many shitty times in previous winters unable to open the lock after i wash it, believe me it works!

[gretz]

Originally posted by n1zm0
normal wash @ a pay-a-dollar pressure wash place and i put a piece of scotch tape on my the door lock cylinders, i've ran into way too many shitty times in previous winters unable to open the lock after i wash it, believe me it works!

+1 for frozen locks

....or when you cant shut your door

[lilmira]

I just go to Centex on centre at night when there is no one around. I'll have all the time to dry the car before I leave.

I don't like touchless, they are expensive and don't even do half the job I can do myself. Your won't have enough time to dry then the moment you drive off the car looks like crap.

I usually wax my car once before winter and then wax again half way thru winter when it's just warm enough.

[ZorroAMG]

10th and 10th + heated parking = win

[bulaian]

I usually only wash my car right before I head home, so the locks don't get the chance to freeze

underground heated parking

[Canmorite]

Originally posted by ZorroAMG
10th and 10th + heated parking = win

+1. 2 Min drive back to the warm underground

[silviak91]

I do not wash winter car.

[403ep3]

I wash my car right before I head home and leave it in the garage. I tried washing it before work..

[adam c]

i usually wash mine right before it gets really cold, it stays the cleanest the longest

[cyrusli]

well, it depends if you want to wash your car to keep it clean or wash your car to keep it from rusting.

if you want to keep it clean during winter, yeah, wash it before it gets really cold, but make sure you dry it properly or yuo'll have trouble with doors generally.

if you're washing to prevent the car from rusting and wash the grime and salt and watever's on the ground off, just spray it off and dry it. I've come to the point where i just was the car every week, spray off the dirt and what not, not a perfectly clean car, but presentable and less hassle in the long run.

I used to spend time washing the car, but for the time it stays clean, it's just a waste of time. IMHO, just spray it off every now and then to get the dirt off, and when spring comes around, do a detailed wash and wax.

[chongkee_]

i wash my car once a week at those wand wash places. The first thing i do after is wipe the side of the doors to keep them from getting stuck.

[97'Scort]

Winter? What's that?

[nismodrifter]

I wait till it gets Fing cold. so it doesn't get dirty. Go to carwash late at night w/bucket, wash mitt, etc. Spray down car, fill bucket, hand wash, rinse. Dry. Enjoy.

[sillysod]

I wash 2x a week in a coin op. Never had my car freeze up even up north in -40 she gets frequent baths.

I don't use a key... keyless entry FTW!

[badatusrnames]

Anyone ever tried a rinseless wash product?

[sneek]

Originally posted by badatusrnames
Anyone ever tried a rinseless wash product?

I have. Sometimes cars are too dirty to be safely rinslessly (if that's a word) washed. A key to keeping yourself from freezing is using warm to hot water. Room temperature water can freeze on your car if it is too cold, not to mention it is pretty unpleasant unless you have an amazing tolerance to the cold.