I've been looking at some of the threads on carwashing and the consensus is to never take your vehicle through an automatic carwash. BUT....what about those of us that live through winter months when it's too cold outside to wash your own car. Can't go a whole winter (5 months) w/o a hand wash, especially since Michigan is one of the most salted states in the country.

What to do?

TIA,
IG

 

I'm in jersey i feel your pain

Try to find a hand car wash thats what i use when im lazy in the summer and all the time in the winter.

I wash my car by hand 2 times a month.(Except winter)

Hand car wash 2 times a month.

Clay bar and Wax once a month(except winter)

 

Some gas stations around my area had touchless car wash, I going to those place in the winter.

 

Even the touchless car washes use harsh detergents. I would not recommend it.
I guess let the car get a little dirty. Wash it when you can, maybe rinse it off in between with the high pressure water and spot free rinse.

 

What I do (in Minnesota.. so it does get cold.. blah) is wait for a day where it's 20 or above. Take a bucket and your own car wash soap and whatever else you need (sponge, micro fiber glove, dryin towels, etc) to one of those drive in hand operated washes.

I spray the car down, then put a shot of my soap in and fill up my bucket, and wash my car as I would outside at home. It takes a little longer that it would normally take using one of those facilities, but it works.

Then just pull outside and dry it off and it'll be dirty again by the time you get home! LOL But, it's gotta be done.

 

put on a good pair of weatherproof gloves!

 

Some good waterproof winter jacket, weatherproof gloves, rubber boots, and snow caps will be good along with a bucket of hot soapy water, and lots of portable 1gallon water containers.
Don't even consider using an automatic car wash facility, eventhough they said it's scratchproof, soft touch, etc... they'll never guarantee it. It's a known fact that those automatic washing thing holds tons of small sand particles, have rough brush mechanisn and it scratches the hell out of your car.

 

Here in Jersey. I freeze my butt off washing the car. The soap/water usually freezes on the car before I get a chance to finish. Sucks, but what else can you do? If I'm feeling ambitious towards the end of summer, I'm thinking of waterproofing my garage and washing it in there.