Washing Car in Winter

[ted920]

I'm in New England and my water is shut off for Winter.
Where do you all wash your cars?
I'm leery of auto wash places, even touchless, as I've heard their wash is not high quality and bad for ceramic coated vehicles. My X5 also has full PPF so I have that concern as well. My ride is getting a bit dirty and needs a wash soon.l

[Paladin1]

I use a touchless wash and just apply Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Wet Wax over the Ceramic Pro. Ceramic Pro has their own after-application detail spray, which I have and still use, but at $60 a bottle it's no better than Turtle Wax IMO, at $15. Just don't use the wax selection in the touchless wash; in fact, Ceramic Pro recommends against this. And if you have a matte PPF, don't use detail spray.

[coolerbythelake]

Originally Posted by ted920

I'm in New England and my water is shut off for Winter.
Where do you all wash your cars?
I'm leery of auto wash places, even touchless, as I've heard their wash is not high quality and bad for ceramic coated vehicles. My X5 also has full PPF so I have that concern as well. My ride is getting a bit dirty and needs a wash soon.l

In Wisconsin here - I hear ya, the struggle is real. I ordinarily would always hand wash and detail my cars but winter definitely presents a problem. I do take my car through a good quality touchless car wash but only when it's been snowing and my car is covered in salt. I do this mainly for the underbody flush. Otherwise I use AMMO NYC's waterless wash system which I can't say enough good things about. I'll honestly use this in the warm months as well if I'm in a hurry it's so good. Video here:

[ted920]

Originally Posted by coolerbythelake

In Wisconsin here - I hear ya, the struggle is real. I ordinarily would always hand wash and detail my cars but winter definitely presents a problem. I do take my car through a good quality touchless car wash but only when it's been snowing and my car is covered in salt. I do this mainly for the underbody flush. Otherwise I use AMMO NYC's waterless wash system which I can't say enough good things about. I'll honestly use this in the warm months as well if I'm in a hurry it's so good. Video here:

Thank You so much for the AMMO NYC info. Looks like EXACTLY what I need. I can do this in my garage and keep the ride clean during the winter.

I'm ordering this ASAP.

Again, great info and THANK YOU!

[ted920]

Originally Posted by Paladin1

I use a touchless wash and just apply Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Wet Wax over the Ceramic Pro. Ceramic Pro has their own after-application detail spray, which I have and still use, but at $60 a bottle it's no better than Turtle Wax IMO, at $15. Just don't use the wax selection in the touchless wash; in fact, Ceramic Pro recommends against this. And if you have a matte PPF, don't use detail spray.

Sounds good. I was thinking of the same approach but foolishly I hadn't thought about the wax issue. Very glad that you mentioned it.

I'm going to get the AMMO NYC products but when I really need it, a good touchless wash and later the wet wax seems like great option.

Thank You.

[gofast182]

You can't have a freeze resistant hose bib installed? I put one in myself and it has a hot water valve, too. I wash right down to 33 degrees if it really needs it.

[araje]

Awesome. Looks like this is exactly what I need.
I have the opposite side of your problem. Here in AZ 112-115F is common. Though I try to wash in mornings it is still in upper 90ies at 8am. + dry weather.

I think this will be a great way to wash.
Has anyone tried this over Stek dynoshield PPF and GTechniq Clear serum ultra coat treated vehicle?

[ted920]

Originally Posted by araje

Awesome. Looks like this is exactly what I need.
I have the opposite side of your problem. Here in AZ 112-115F is common. Though I try to wash in mornings it is still in upper 90ies at 8am. + dry weather.

I think this will be a great way to wash.
Has anyone tried this over Stek dynoshield PPF and GTechniq Clear serum ultra coat treated vehicle?

I use this over my XPEL PPF and works perfect!

[Spencer518]

Resurrecting this thread because the title works.

Now that winter is upon us in the north and hoses are away, I'm going to be headed to the automatic car wash soon. I figured out the Car Wash camera view so I can line up with the rails. The manual says to fold the mirrors in an automatic wash. Is this really necessary? If they're folded in the mirror glass won't get cleaned. I never had an issue with my other cars with non-folding mirrors, but they also didn't have cameras on the mirrors.

[Alan l.]

I use this once my hose is shut off. pressure is actually pretty darn decent for what it is.
https://smile.amazon.com/Sun-Joe-SPX...5894551&sr=8-2

[denaliman]

I usually go to a local wand wash at night. I talked to the owner and he doesn't mind me bringing my buckets and wash soap if it is not busy. Wash by hand then I use their hot water wand and spotless rinse. Don't even think about using those wash brushes or should I say wire brushes! . Even at that, it still cost me about 10-15 bucks in loonies and toonies (Canadian). They use salt on the roads up here in Ontario and brine. The brine makes your car look completely white with all the road spray.

[bandersen]

Ammo....great video and information - bookmarked! Thank you. So - I'm thinking of new car and PPF. Ceramic on the PPF? Over the next few years, would you use a wax over the PPF (or, PPF + Ceramic)? Any thoughts there? Thanks all!

[stockli81]

Was washing the other day in the 20's... Have a bathroom just outside the driveway area, so have the hose hooked up to both hot/cold water. Used just the hot

[11001X101]

I used waterless wash concentrate before. It worked great.