For all the cold winter lovers, how do you guys wash your cars in the winter. Do you take it to a car wash or do you tough it out in the cold? If you take it to a car wash, do you recommend the touchless washes that have the high pressure sprays?

Thanks,
Vik

 

The DIY one near me has open-ended bays, but equipped with industrial heaters. Still cold but I prefer the DIY when I can't use my driveway.

 

I would never ever bring the car to any machine car wash, touchless or not, sometimes I wash it outside in the cold then pull it into the garage to finish it and sometimes I have the mobile detailer come to the house to do it as long as its above freezing.

 

I also choose DIY - sometimes painful though in the New ENgland cold!!

 

Can't see what is wrong with some of the tocuhless washes. The ones I am talking about are the ones where they spray water around the car and NOTHING except water hits the car. Tthere are also usually no tracks to get wheels stuck in.

Not as good as a DIY, but in the middle of winter when the house water bibs are shut off, it does keep dirt off. i know the water is recycled and the soap is crap, but it is better than no wash at all during the several months of NE cold.

 

I can't see the touchless car washes being a problem either. No different than the DYI, except that you can get it cleaner at a DYI.
For a quick wash to remove grime and salt, opt for the undercarriage spray and drive it home quick to finish drying before it freezes...

 

Warm water.
Rubber gloves.

My last house I just had a hose off the hot weater heater and would mix that with water from the hose. This house, I've got to fill up the buckets inside, but it's worth it.

Although neither here in NC or Seattle gets all that cold. I can't image what i'd be like to try and wash a car when it's in the 20s or lower. How cold does it have to be before your car starts to ice over while being washed?

 

I wash my car inside the garage.

I have a modine heater in my garage with a thermostat and a faucet that the plumber installed a temperature control so that the water is always around 70 degrees.

I usually open the garage door about 1-2" and let the water flow out the garage. It works great. The only issue being the water that runs outside sometimes freezes. Of course, your garage slab has to be pitched towards your overhead doors!

 

I bust out the rubber gloves and hand warmers!

 

Do you guys use those rubber insulated wool mitts from Griots? I just ordered a pair and was wondering how warm they keep. They look like they work great.

 

I put on one pair of rubber gloves with some small pocket warmers I got at BJ's, then a second pair. I don't know if the second pair helps keep the cold off, but they do keep my hands dry.

 

In the winter I bring my cars to a detailing shop that do handwashes while you wait. There are also hand car washes set up like the automatic ones, the cars are put on a moving track and there are guys with raincoats on that shampoo. I have never put my 996 through one b/c I'm worried avout my wheels getting damaged.