I'm looking to get some ideas on how everybody changes their car care techniques for the winter. Granted...I'm in California so its a mild winter compared to most. But still winter nonetheless.

For nice weather I typically do frequent washes, with almost daily dusting and/or wipedowns and sealant applied about once a month. With more water and dirt from winter, I'm more than anything worried about wiping down with more dirt being on the car creating more marring.

I'd love to hear some thoughts from others on how you change around your car care to adjust for the increased cold/dirt/water of winter.

 

Winter? In Cali?

I don't think you should change a damn thing. Maybe apply rain-X on the windows but that's bout it.
Wash it more frequently maybe.

That's what I do. More frequent washes. And I do it in two steps. First I use a brush to just knock the dirt and leafs off the car. Then change the water and use MF towel for a complete wash.
During the summer I just spray car with soap. Let it soak a bit and then just MF wash.

 

A rinseless wash product such as optimum no rinse or protectall's quick and easy wash are great investments for winter. Since they don't require more than 2-5 gallons of water total, and don't require rinsing. You can wash the car in a warm garage, with warm water in the bucket so no need to freeze your ***/hands off. I do a presoak with ONR solution using a 1 gallon chemical sprayer setup, but its not absolutely necessary, or you could simply pre spray spray the car outside to remove the larger contamination, then pull the car into a garage and finish the wash there.

 

Your winter care will definitely be different than my winter care, but I started using QEW (Quick & Easy Wash), which is a rinseless car wash. It helps to keep the salt off during the winter months......something your are fortunate enough not to have to worry about.

 

I use a rinseless wash soap during the winter too. Although, my preferred soaps are DP 4-in-1 and Optimum No Rinse. I like that I can use these products in my garage without making much mess. This is critical during the winter because I can heat the garage space to make it more comfortable.

 

I haven't used ONR, but from what I understand it's very similiar to QEW. When my QEW runs out, I plan on trying ONR.

 

I've used both, ONR is superior to QEW. It also makes a great quick detailer and clay lubricant, which QEW doesn't do

 

I too use ONR. It's way better then Qew. When it's time to clean the car. I just put it in the garage, Get my sheepskin and two buckets (grit guard in both) with Warm water and before I do a panel I Spary ONR (Quick detailer dilute) on the panel and start going over it with the sheep skin soak with the Onr and wipe down the panel and then rinse the mitt off in the rinse bucket and do the next panel. After I wash each panel I wipe it down with a mircofiber towel to dry the panel off.

Also first I do the wheels first before I do the car but not using the same buckets or mitt's.

 

This will be my first winter with the g and i'm wanting to learn as much as possible about how you guys keep your rides looking great throughout the winter. So please, write as much as you can.

So far it looks like ONR sprayed on the panel, wiped with one mit, rinsed with another, and then maybe MF towel dried?

 

I just use a hand car wash service. In New York, there are plenty of them. I have found a good one and use them when I am feeling lazy or when it is just too cold.

 

why not just go to a hand car-wash and get washed there, thats what im going to do. now trying to wax the car during the winter is going to be a bitch.. i dont know why your worried with cali.'s weather. im in new york..

 

I have used the car wash in very cold weather with my previous cars, not sure I will with the black, though the one I use is a no touch. There is also a fairly good self serve wash nearby. I feel a car wash is better than leaving the car dirty in the winter. I would rather do it myself, but don't like blue hands anymore! I wish we had a few hand wash places around here!

 

This is how I do my rinseless washing . . .

http://thedetailinghandbook.com/Rinseless_Washing.aspx

 

is it okay to wax the car outside in 20-30 degree weather?

 

I wouldn't even think about doing it, if it was that cold. I just bring it into a garage.