Winter detailing

I think alot of it has to do with the prep before the cold weather sets in, making sure you have a good layer of wax in place to make things easier when you need to go faster.

In the cold weather, I use some rubber dishwashing gloves to keep my hands dry which in turn helps prevent them from freezing up.

Biggest challenge thus far for me has been trying to get things to dry. My waffle weaves just don't seem as effective in the cold, leaving a thin layer of moisture behind.

 

I just get in the mind set that the MINI is not going to look like it does in the summer.

If it is really dirty, I take it to the do-it-yourself car wash with the wand. I just use the high P water setting and avoid spraying at a high angle (i.e., I just make glancing sprays).

Then I pray for the rare mid 40s day when I can actually wash the car ... after unfreezing the hose. :crazy:

Oh, and as jcauseyfd says, a good pre-winter prep helps a lot in spraying off the grim.

 

Interesting observation. My MF towels dont seem to do the job and I thot it was just them. Glad to hear it wasn't just me.

 

I hose off the road salt ontop and below when I can (without the driveway turning into a hockey rink). I find that spaying the car really does nothing for the dirt.

As far as keeping Spike looking good (from 10 feet way or when he's a blur on the road) I wipe down his wheels, and all the black trim (careful NOT to wipe the paint) and I also wipe the windows and carefully the headlights. Since the headlights are plastic and not glass I'm extra careful with those. Clean the license plates too with a wipe. Amazing what a bit of wiping does to spruce things up between proper washes.

Of course I do all this on the QT other wise my wife gives me the 3rd degree and rolls her eyes a lot. Or worse, figures if I have time to spare, then there must be something 'practical' I can do around the house.

 

Good point about the windows. Yes, cleaning the windows is easy enough and makes a big difference.

 

A sunny day goes a long way towards getting that last film of water up. Also, I use a sealant (Klasse AIO and Sealant Glaze) instead of a wax before the winter sets in. It lasts longer than wax, but the shine isn't as deep.

 

Out of sight out of mind?

No not when this is below...

So wash when I can and live on Banana Gloss and Hydro...


Here's a tip for your Microfiber ... spritz with Hydro or Slick before use. This will allow the towel to absorb water faster.

 

I'm spoiled...I have the luxury of washing mine inside my heated manufacturing plant and when it's in single digits outside I put it in my paint booth on bake cycle to dry all the locks and hinges before taking it back outside. Heated pressure washer also removes al the salt and grit from underneath.

 

Large, heated, attached garage with hose bibs and a center floor drain. Ceiling fans for expediting the drying process.

I take some ridicule from SWMBO over the frequency of my winter detailing but it has become as much a part of my routine as clearing snow off the walks.

 

My recent plan of attack:

Hit the touchless carwash
Get home pronto and finish with a detailing spray in the heated garage.
I'd really like to get a good wash in before another wax happens.

Unfortunately, the hose is partially underground outside, so once it's cold out, no washy for me at home :cryin:

Now if I can just convince the hubby to build a heated washbay :cornut:

 

Well this time of year with the weather that we've been having all I can do is hope the last detail & wax will protect the paint unil warm weather returns (fingers crossed). At best all I am able to do is go to the local self serve wash & spray the carp off the best I can. Oh the life of the daily driver MINI.

Hey Mark aka CHKMINI, want to drive my MINI to work one day?

 

Hmm, that is an interesting sounding trick. I may have to give that a try sometime.

 

First: spend a good amount of time hosing off all of the salt, or as much as can be removed.

Second: Dump a few buckets of soapy water over the car to further loosen the little crystals (sand and salt that remains) that WILL heavily swirl the paint when they're moved around by a sponge, mitt, whatever.

Third: Fill up two buckets with warm water, one for soap and one for rinsing the mitt.

Fourth: Wash from top to bottom, with back to front motions (no "wax-on, wax-off" garbage).

Fifth: If it's warm enough and sunny enough (say, above 40 degrees), I'll dry the best I can with a waffle weave. If it's in the 30s, I just let it be since I know drying is useless anyway.

I don't wash my cars nearly as much in the winter as I do during spring/summer/fall. I just accept that my cars, who don't sleep in garages, are just going to be more dirty during these months. I watch the gunk build up and the swirls show up, and then I eradicate them in the spring with a full detail.

- Marc

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPugLIbn_O0[/ame]