This doesn’t mean that I don’t occasionally go to the carwash, but sometimes, I am not going to pay for a wash job and then drive home on salty roads and just get dirty again.
The only way to get my vehicle really clean in the winter, so that it can be garaged or temporarily stored in a clean condition, is to wash it in my own driveway.
Washing a car outside at 27-32 degrees F. 🙂
Two five gallon buckets .. each with wash/wax solution in warm water with a wash cloth in each bucket.
An expandable hose carrying typical temp cold rinse water from outdoor faucet works down to about 30 .. if you have access to luke warm or any slightly heated rinse water for this hose, all the better, you can then wash down to about 27 degrees .. I prefer 75 ft expandable hose for a distance from faucet of about thirty five feet .. much easier to handle than a traditional rigid hose. They have a shorter lifespan but washing with and handling a rigid plastic or rubber hose is nearly impossible in the cold. The easy to use flexible expanding hose can be easily coiled once it retracts and stored in plastic five gallon pail between uses along with all other items like nozzle and wash/wax solution bottle.
Wash vehicle on cloudy day – if possible, even in winter, to prevent dried water spots on the glass. Some sun dried spots are almost impossible to remove, and seem to last for months, once set-in. Avoiding direct sunlight seems to almost completely prevent this on both the glass and paint. It gives you enough time to wipe the vehicle dry before it air dries .. preventing water blemishes.
Before washing, rinse off every bit of grit possible using hose and a good nozzle; thoroughly rinse the underside including several passes up and inside of the wheel wells. I also take much care to rinse the lower inside edges of bumpers, fenders and rocker panels to flush out any possible salt residue. Carefully spray the inside lower portions of front spoiler or grill area where salt can also collect.
I never wash my engine – just a personal choice – but, I never do. During the warm weather months, I occasionally wipe portions of the engine area with a dry or slightly dampened cloth. That’s it.
Place one warm water wash bucket at front of vehicle and one at rear. Occasionally, alternate or rotate between buckets and wash cloths to reduce chance of grit and scratching. Also keeps wash water warmer by alternating. Wash vehicle top half first, roof, windows, hood, trunk area .. then wash top half of door panels and front and rear quarters .. wash wheels .. then finish with lowest area on doors and rocker panels and fender edges.
I just roll up my sleeves and grin and bear the cold. It’s easier than trying to use any kind of lined or rubber gloves. Each time you dip the wash cloth your hands get warmed up. Washing a car in temps near or just below freezing on overcast days .. can give you the shiniest and most beautiful wash job.
I use old old short knapp bath towels to completely dry the car. I do this fairly quickly after rinsing. Be sure to wipe all rubber mouldings on doors and trunk to prevent door freeze-ups. If you final rinse with luke warm water, there is usually plenty of time (several minutes) to wipe and dry the vehicle including moldings and trim before any frost or ice re-appears.
I don’t set parking brake for a number of hours after washing to prevent any possible sticking due to residual dampness below freezing. After washing and parking in garage, I try and give everything overnight to air dry and haven’t had any recent problems with freeze-ups.
I’ve washed them outside down to about 27 F. using a hose with slightly heated rinse water. That was on a calm day with virtually no windchill.
I keep some rock salt on hand in case my rinse water causes ice on the roadway after I’ve moved the vehicle into the garage. It usually doesn’t but there can be a few slippery spots on frozen driveway near my work area.
The alternative to all of this, of course, is to go to the car wash and let them do the work. The only problem .. finding your route home with that newly washed car .. on the messy salted roads.
Cataphract 3 years, 1 month ago.
