I just realized that the swirl marks on my trunk are from that auto carwash crap.

My question is, what am i supposed to do in like 20 degree weather?? How do i wash it?

Also dont you think if i took it to those self wash places the foam brush would have all the crap in it?

Ive only washed mine once so far- it was auto, but now im reconsidering.

Any advice?

 

I take mine through anyway. I don't have a choice in the winter. I'm not hand washing my car outside in below freezing weather. I just deal with it.

 

Just take it through a touchless car wash. And get it polished in the spring after the roads start to dry up.

The only other option is to take it to a detail shop to have it hand washed.

 

Same here! I love my TSX but I'm not going to freeze in the 0 degree weather to wash it!! Just use a touchless car wash or take it to the self car wash and just use the high pressure spray. It's better to do that than to let the salt stay on the paint!!

 

Ok well I'm going to wash mine tomorrow. Because it is real inconvenient to wash it in freeIng weather. But I only take my car to delta sonic. But it has cloth parts. Used to take my BMW there too

 

You know I was wondering the same thing..the dealership already effed my car up once washing it and when I told them to fix it they said as a one time courtesy they'd detail it but I was banned from getting free carwashes for life. Eh I wasn't going to use them for carwashes again but ban me for your screwup? Nice.

Anyway, how are those touchless carwashes on your rims? I need to wash my car too but it's too damned cold..I was considering going to one of those self-wash places if we ever get a warm day..

 

find a friend or a friend of a friend with an underground parking lot... some of those apartments have a place where u can wash your car.. thats what I do when the weather ain't too friendly.

 

Then you'll have swirls. Rember they're not just cloths but cloths covered in dirt/salt from all the previous washes.

 

Don't expect the touchless carwash to get the car as clean as if you hand washed it!! You'll still have some dirty residue left after it's washed. At least you won't have all that salt build up! Plus, the one I go to has an underbody spray as you're driving into the wash bay...good way to get the salt off of the underbody!

I don't ever let the car wash put that cheap spray wax on my car...I figure it's waxing in all of the dirt residue it left behind. Plus, it's crap!!

 

One thing you can do is use warm water in your bucket with car wash soap so its not cold on your hands. When rinsing, if you have a gun nozzle you won't have to use your thumbs to spray the hose either.

I've done it in cold weather and its not bad.

 

Thats not nice that they banned you, what asswipes. Its their own fault, why dont they just use clean materials.

no offense but thats not realistic at all for me. I live 20 miles away from the city, where there are underground parking garages. No apts around this area with underground lots.

You know, i believe you, but i am also considering i took my eclipse, CL, BMW through them and i never ended up with the swirl marks. Maybe good luck?

Touchless carwashes are useless, except Fullers on Algonquin and Elmhurst, DAMN thats an awesome wash for 5 bux.

Water and the sponge get gold FAST. Its still too cold.

 

i take mine to the acura dealer. juss ask and normally, they will wash your car for free!!!

 

optimum no rinse wash after a high pressure hose off!
check the wash & wax section

great stuff!

assuming you have a garage to wash in, that way u can stay somewhat warm

 

You don't have a garage?

 

i did the optimum no rinse with super hot water. by the time i was done the water was still warm. was not bad at all. one panel at a time and the water won't freeze on the car.

 

I seldom wash the car during the winter unless its warm enough to do a proper wash at home . At least once a week I go to the spray wash and just spray off the heavier crud using only the rinse water as the soap is pretty strong and will degrade the sealant.

Occasionally if its not too cold I'll take my pail and my own wash soap/water to the spray wash and first spray off the heavy crud then gently using a sheepskin mitt I use my water to wash the whole car down then I use the spray rinse. I seldom dry the car when doing this as these sprays can blow sand granuals up on the surface to be ground in by the drying towel.

Any time I do a highway road trip I stop at my destination and just spray the car off and do it again soon as I get back to town... even before I go home .. costs a $1 and taked 3 min. Keeps the crud from bonding to the paint.


The touchless washes use a very harsh soap and will strip your wax in no time ..

 

I don't...cleaning my car has always been a challenge.

 

Never seen one of those before...

 

Just detail your car in the Spring

 

i bought a heater for my garage...i just clean it with some quick detailer and Mfibers

 

Perfect!!!

 

What's "winter"?

 

Exactly.

 

I have heard of it. What does it mean?

 

my acura dealer is never allowed to touch my car again....they suck at washing cars, and i can guarantee your dealer sucks at washing cars too....they will scratch it up to be damned....

 

the touchless car wash by me is awesome
i take it there every winter atleast once.

does a good job at getting all the salt off and adds another layer of wax for more protection.

 

I also post a sign on the driver window. "DO NOT WASH !!!"

 

I've washed my car in 20-30 degree weather before. Albeit, it has f'ing cold, and that is about as cold as I would go before saying 'No', but I do what I have to do.

 

Check out this thread for more info on Optimum NRWS (towards the middle I posted further links to last year's NRWS threads) - I recommend it 100% if you have a garage to use. If you have to wash outside, it may be a bit cold, but heck, you could probably get the whole car wiped down in 10 minutes if you don't dry panels in between (just be sure to use a grit guard, you're gonna get all sorts of crap from all the salt)

 

I take my car to a self wash place and i dont use the brush. I use their hose of course, and do a rinse then a pressure wash (which also sprays their shampoo). And I use my own towels that i got from exceldetail.com (got some really great ones) and I use a quick detail as I dry. I take my own products save for the water and the shampoo.