cleaning your car in the winter?

[jpbecker]

If you are like me with your cars you believe they are there to be enjoyed and driven. So how do people keep the salt off their cars and clean through the winter? It has been so cold to try and use the hose and the car wash guys just scratch the paint and I'm not going near an auto wash. So am I better to leave it?

btw my car is undercover o/n.

Open to ideas!

 

[glamdring]

personally, I get the pressure washer out and, on a low pressure to start with, run it around the car to get all the loose muck and crap off. Then I use it again on a slightly higher pressure with a shampoo mixed in, give that a few minutes to sit there and drip off. Then I give it a good blast with high pressure which gets the serious crud off. Then I hand wash it, and pressure wash that off.

Then I pay the water bill.

 

[jpbecker]

thanks glamdring, i was looking at pressure washers in halfords the other day and thought they could do the trick

 

[glamdring]

only thing I'd say is, spend a bit more on one than the billy basic one - I had a £79 Karcher to start with that broke down. I got the money back from Halfrauds and then bought a slightly more expensive one - £120 I think? - that had a few more toys, like the ability to vary the pressure by twisting the nozzle, and also put the shampoo on by using the nozzle - rather than the basic ones which require you to put a hose into a freestanding shampoo tank. Much easier.

 

[tscaptain]

Snow foam - really good at loosening up all the cr*p and then gentle pressure wash off. You need a pressure washer to connect to the snow foam lance though
Here for example
http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Foam_Pre-Wash_1.html

Shame about the music here but you'll get the idea!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVpoQ5fw2rs

You can then follow up with a hand wash or not depending how soon it's going to get filthy again![]

 

[jpbecker]

being an aussie who is used to washing my car easily, washing at sub zero temperatures is certinly an experience!

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: jpbecker

being an aussie who is used to washing my car easily,

I thought that meant getting the missus to do it while you sipped on a tinnie![]

I don't do sub-zero washing - can't get the water through the hose.

 

[Nick_USA]

You need a mixer tap for the hose ..... trouble is you have to dry the car very quickly before it freezes ..... Otherwise it's off to borrow her indoors hair dryer

 

[jpbecker]

ha ha![] the water on the ground becomes a real hazard too. Bad look slipping on your butt when you are admiring your clean car!!

 

[CLIFFWILKINS]

Its my job as a Valeter&Detailer to keep my customers happy, what ever the weather just as long as the water does not freeze.
Wash frequently to keep road salt and grim at bay
If very dirty power wash first or snow foam as said.
Remember to use a grit guard bucket or the 2 bucket method
and not that dirty old sponge, a nice lambs wool mitt or micro fibre mitt
No washing up liquid either as it contain salt, a nice ph balanced shampoo.
Last of all a nice plush dring towel to dry that well rinsed bodywork.
Hope that helps.
Cliff

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: Nick_USA

You need a mixer tap for the hose ..... trouble is you have to dry the car very quickly before it freezes ..... Otherwise it's off to borrow her indoors hair dryer

Nah! It can stay dirty until the air temp is in the + bit. A mixer tap? Crikey, nearest hot water tap is a v. long way from the car washing area! Could get one of these, I suppose?
http://www.cleanstuff.co.uk/acatalog/Karcher_HDS_501_C_Hot_Water_Pressure_Washer.html

 

[colinbythesea]

When the good weather comes buy the Zymol preparation and wax products then get your car waxed up. The wax is superb and dirt doesn't stick so easily and just falls off easily when cleaned. It lasts a very long time as well.

 

[CLIFFWILKINS]

Good shout Colin Zymol is indeed a very good sealant wax.
But for harsh long winter months there are other longer lasting harding
wearing sealant waxes.
Remember its all in the prep work as well.

 

[colinbythesea]

I am sure there are many excellent products and I did spend 2 days claying and preparing my car when I first bought it. It's just the only product I use that works so well.

 

[grahamwhite]

i use a bucket of warm water, my hands stay warm and it doesn't freeze on the car.

I just re-proofed the hood with a £20 autoglym kit and 1 week later it looks awesome, it was -0.5 when i did this.
I actually keep a long hose connected to a hot water supply so when i get back from a run i can wash the grime off straight away and only takes a couple of minutes.

 

[Richard Knight]

No washing up liquid either as it contain salt,

Well I never , you learn something new every day. Thanks for that one. Off to the shops to rectify that problem then........