[james1138]

And I live in Michigan and I don’t know how much longer I can wash my car outside, although I do love it. Right now my car is new and I wash it at least once a week by hand and it looks beautiful. The idea of hand washing my car in my garage when it’s 10° out in February sounds awful.

I guess my question is if I end up having to take my car to a regular car wash is there anything that I can do on a yearly basis to reverse the swirl marks, and damage that will probably be inflicted on my car?

[alex2364]

I would only use touchless car washes. Doesn't get as clean as brush washes, but it doesn't damage your paint either.

[james1138]

Thanks!

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by alex2364

I would only use touchless car washes. Doesn't get as clean as brush washes, but it doesn't damage your paint either.

Knocks 90% off.

[shimmy23]

Originally Posted by alex2364

I would only use touchless car washes. Doesn't get as clean as brush washes, but it doesn't damage your paint either.

it absolutely may damage your paint. how do you think it melts off all that dirt? touch less washes use very harsh chemicals. OP, do you have a ceramic coat? a ceramic coat will protect your paint should you choose to run it thru a touch less wash.

[Tejas1836]

I have found that washing vehicles outside in the cold, without hot water outlets, is to use a bucket of hot water for your suds and wear long rubber dishwashing gloves.

[diirk]

Ceramic coat is your best friend in the winter. Also, a touchless car wash with undercarriage wash (if you're in a salted road area) is very helpful. For the most part, I expect our X3 to sit in the garage unless the weather clears a bit. I have a 4Runner I use for the snow and salt.

[DocL]

The touchless laser wash is the best. When I'm too lazy to hand was I'll run my car through it. It doesn't remove all of the grime, but for a quick blast once a month, it works fine.

[2020_M2CS]

If you need a quick wash. Take it to one of those self car washes. Shoot it down with soap and wax, then rinse. Grab you leaf blower and blow all that water off. Better than touchless and touch car wash.

[overcoil]

at 34 or 35 degrees Fahrenheit washing outside is something I like.

I even do it in shorts / make sure no wind. I wear a pair of rubber calf high boots and use a few different kind of gloves ( dishwashing gloves, nitrate, thick rubber insulation workman ) and I use those chemical hand warmer packs. But I'm fine washing with just gloves and letting my hands get cold.

I won't wax or polish until rain and warmer weather has taken the salt off the streets.

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by shimmy23

it absolutely may damage your paint. how do you think it melts off all that dirt? touch less washes use very harsh chemicals. OP, do you have a ceramic coat? a ceramic coat will protect your paint should you choose to run it thru a touch less wash.

Used nothing but touchless for years and never had an issue.

[shimmy23]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Used nothing but touchless for years and never had an issue.

same but i also have ceramic coating on both my cars. a touchless wash is harsh on a paint that is unprotected

[86Zed]

I'll hit the touchless wash occasionally, far more likely to go to the DIY coin wash and use their pressure washer gun/foam setup. Able to hit the undercarriage more aggressively and usually a few $ cheaper.

[nype]

Originally Posted by shimmy23

same but i also have ceramic coating on both my cars. a touchless wash is harsh on a paint that is unprotected

Having my new car ceramic coated before winter arrives. Haven't had a car coated before and have never used any kind of car wash. Usually DIY or pay a mobile service.

Rookie question...do the touchless car washes have some sort of drying process? I'd be concerned about collecting water spots otherwise.

[jkoral]

I had hot water spigot installed specifically for winter washing. But I don't use it when it's 10 degrees -- has to be high 20s/low 30s (with no windchill).

Before hot spigot, used to fill the bucket inside with hot water, but rinsing with cold water surface (and beads) always froze.

[tracer bullet]

Funny how we all differ with acceptable temps to wash in. I'm not bothering with it if it's below freezing, and I'm fairly hardy, I think anyhow.

I don't do the automatic stuff even touchless any more, I don't know if it's stripping or adding but I get rainbow colors on the trim and similar places, which I end up removing the following spring with a heavy duty citrus cleaner.

I basically wash the latest in the fall that I can stand, and then again the following spring once it's above freezing and sunny for a day. Otherwise I don't touch it in between, it is what it is. I don't drive the better car unless the roads are perfectly clear, so it doesn't need much of a wash anyhow. I drive the lesser car when the roads are snowy / salty / slushy and a wash is somewhat pointless, the car is filthy after the first mile away from the house anyhow.

Handwashing in a DIY coin op is certainly the best. Choose a time when it's not busy (8PM on a Tuesday or something) and no one will care that you are there for so long.

[allinon72]

I'm in the automatic car wash industry, and there are 2 ways to clean a car: friction or strong chemicals, pick your poison. I see touchless being lionized everywhere when it can sometimes (not always) do more damage than friction washes. The more important factor is finding a carwash that has a good reputation for being well maintained. They are out there, although they are the exception rather than the rule.

[james1138]

Thanks for the great advice everyone. I should say that I am not against cleaning my car in the winter but I normally clean my car once a week or once every two weeks at most, and I feel like the weather would prevent this from happening.

My car is ceramic coated, I also have partial PPF.

[christianb5s4]

Another option to consider is using something like Optimum No Rinse where you do not need running water and can go panel by panel. And maybe every few weeks, would go to a DIY wash place to spray off the undercarriage and wheel wells.

It's the route I'd go in your position and would use the two bucket method especially in winter with higher levels of dirt and grime.

[NikMN]

I always wash on a mild day right before it gets cold. That way car stays cleaner longer

With all the carjacking going on lately I'm not recommending following method.

I did self wash places in the past. My trick was to do it at 2 or 3 in the morning. Most times I had whole place to myself and maybe 1 other crazy person. Plenty of time to was and hand dry. Rinse of the brush really well before using it best to skip it altogether.