Winter time wash method - Rinse less/Waterless ?

Todd C · Sep 12, 2019

I have a black ceramic coated 19 and live in Georgia. We aren't anywhere near close to it yet, but what do you do to keep up with your washes in the winter time? My truck is a daily driver and is never garaged. I am quite **** about my paint and swirl marks in black paint are the things of nightmares to me. So far I love the ceramic and feel the washes are a bit easier and drying is much easier. I am looking a few months a head to when pulling out the hose and buckets will not be too desirable. So, you other folks that are as weird about keeping up your paint, what methods/products do you use during winter? The rinse less and water less products that I've watched videos on seem more like products for washing a pretty much clean vehicle not one that is soiled from rain sleet ice, salt and otherwise regular daily wear.

tones2SS · Sep 12, 2019

If it's a daily driver and it doesn't get super dirty, then you can use the waterless wash. I do this on my 2019 Roush Stage 3 as it never sees rain/wet pavement or snow. It doesn't get very dirty at all.
If you truck gets really dirty, a waterless wash isn't going to cut it and you'll be scratching.
I like the Adam's waterless wash. Great stuff. Works awesome and smells awesome. I'm pretty **** about my vehicles as well. GOOD LUCK!!

chrisbh17 · Sep 12, 2019

To be honest, I try to avoid washing my vehicles in the winter. And up here in CT, its a LONG winter.

I will occasionally hit the surfaces of them with an electric pressure washer with the most gentle nozzle (green) from a 15' or so distance. Basically just to get the loose stuff off. Ill also spray the undercarriage a bit for the same reason. But for most of the cold weather months, I dont really WASH my vehicles. You can't get swirls if you never touch the paint!

I imagine in Atlanta your winters are far less severe, so I would stick with 2 bucket method, pre-wash with foam, foam while washing, etc. Anything to make sure there is a lubricated barrier between your wash media and your paint.

I have never tried a waterless or rinseless wash, Im pretty sure I will NEVER try it on my black car. White truck, maybe...black anything? No.

Todd C · Sep 12, 2019

@tones2SS - your comment about water less scratching is exactly what it seems like to me. Like trying to wash your truck with quick detail spray (which it maybe fine for well kept paint that isn't really dirty). So you're basically saying to suck it up, get cold uh??

tones2SS · Sep 12, 2019

Todd C said:
@tones2SS - your comment about water less scratching is exactly what it seems like to me. Like trying to wash your truck with quick detail spray (which it maybe fine for well kept paint that isn't really dirty). So you're basically saying to suck it up, get cold uh??

LOL
Or,....do what I do, go to the TOUCHLESS CAR WASH. Nothing touches the vehicle but soap and water. I don't know what soap they use, but at least I know the undercarriage is being sprayed off as well. It's too cold in Massachusetts during the winter months to wash a vehicle. Really cold. lol
Good luck man.

chrisbh17 · Sep 12, 2019

tones2SS said:
LOL
Or,....do what I do, go to the TOUCHLESS CAR WASH. Nothing touches the vehicle but soap and water. I don't know what soap they use, but at least I know the undercarriage is being sprayed off as well. It's too cold in Massachusetts during the winter months to wash a vehicle. Really cold. lol
Good luck man.

Touchless is OK but I keep reading how harsh the chemicals are that they put in the soap. Even unsafe for a coated vehicle!

Todd C · Sep 12, 2019

chrisbh17 said:
To be honest, I try to avoid washing my vehicles in the winter. And up here in CT, its a LONG winter.

I will occasionally hit the surfaces of them with an electric pressure washer with the most gentle nozzle (green) from a 15' or so distance. Basically just to get the loose stuff off. Ill also spray the undercarriage a bit for the same reason. But for most of the cold weather months, I dont really WASH my vehicles. You can't get swirls if you never touch the paint!

I imagine in Atlanta your winters are far less severe, so I would stick with 2 bucket method, pre-wash with foam, foam while washing, etc. Anything to make sure there is a lubricated barrier between your wash media and your paint.

I have never tried a waterless or rinseless wash, Im pretty sure I will NEVER try it on my black car. White truck, maybe...black anything? No.

Pretty much what I do in the hot weather. You are correct, winter is nothing like what you have but still not usually desirable to play in water! You guys sound like your on the same page as I was thinking regarding the rinse less/water less products

tones2SS · Sep 12, 2019

chrisbh17 said:
Touchless is OK but I keep reading how harsh the chemicals are that they put in the soap. Even unsafe for a coated vehicle!

Yeah, that's what scares me, but I have no choice.
It's either let it be caked with snow/salt/sand or get it washed with the Touchless wash. It's a double edged sword living in the Northeast. I hate it.
I HATE WINTER!!! lol

Todd C · Sep 12, 2019

tones2SS said:
LOL
Or,....do what I do, go to the TOUCHLESS CAR WASH. Nothing touches the vehicle but soap and water. I don't know what soap they use, but at least I know the undercarriage is being sprayed off as well. It's too cold in Massachusetts during the winter months to wash a vehicle. Really cold. lol
Good luck man.

Man...I don't know about that. I have heard about really harsh chemicals being used in those. I spent a lot of money (to me) getting the ceramic coating and not sure that I trust it will withstand whatever they are using in those touchless tunnels.

tones2SS · Sep 12, 2019

Todd C said:
Man...I don't know about that. I have heard about really harsh chemicals being used in those. I spent a lot of money (to me) getting the ceramic coating and not sure that I trust it will withstand whatever they are using in those touchless tunnels.

Yeah,......hard to say exactly wit the harsh chemicals.
My truck was ceramic coated. I had it Cquartz Finest coated. That was back in 2016 though.
I have no choice but to use the touchless wash. I'm not going to freeze my hands and other body parts off in the Massachusetts winter cleaning my truck. It gets pretty brutal out here as far as temperatures go.

Pull Ya · Sep 12, 2019

A touch less wash doesn't take all the dirt and crap off the paint, so if you have to use one of them, please don't dry your truck. Drive really slow through that blower thing and try to get all the water off that way. If you dry your truck with a towel you will just be rubbing the dirt and crap all over the paint. Also I agree with the comments about the rinse less wash--it's main purpose is for vehicles that are "dusty" or have very very light dirt on them. They are not designed for "dirty" trucks.
Jay

BWL · Sep 13, 2019

I pressure wash the undercarriage and hook up a hose to the laundry sink for warm water rinse and wash it normally apart from doing smaller sections at a time if its super cold. Then I park in the garage and throw de-icer down so I don't fall on the ice I created. Barring that I go to the wand wash. I Bring my wash mitt, bucket and car wash. Just use the wand to fill the bucket and rinse. Saves me a few tokens and don't have to use the dirty wash brush. Thought it might **** the car wash guys off, but they haven't said anything so far.

tones2SS · Sep 13, 2019

Pull Ya said:
A touch less wash doesn't take all the dirt and crap off the paint, so if you have to use one of them, please don't dry your truck. Drive really slow through that blower thing and try to get all the water off that way. If you dry your truck with a towel you will just be rubbing the dirt and crap all over the paint. Also I agree with the comments about the rinse less wash--it's main purpose is for vehicles that are "dusty" or have very very light dirt on them. They are not designed for "dirty" trucks.
Jay

Yeah, it's a double edged sword man. I don't dry my truck after the touchless wash, it's too cold. WINTER SUCKS!!!! :flame:

I "air dry" it if you will, while driving. lol

quietpeen · Sep 13, 2019

Adams waterlass (well Rinseless mixed with water 16:1) is great. Like stated you can't use it on a real dirty vehicle, but if you drove through rain and want to quickly clean it, no problem. If one area looks worse just really soak with with waterless and let it remove the worrisome stuff on it own then hit again with waterless and good microfiber towel.

autokraftgt · Sep 13, 2019

touchless car washes use acid....it aint soap. Its a High ph acid, then a low ph acid...dwell time...high pressure. your coating will not last if you use touchless washes

tones2SS · Sep 13, 2019

quietpeen said:
Adams waterlass (well Rinseless mixed with water 16:1) is great. Like stated you can't use it on a real dirty vehicle, but if you drove through rain and want to quickly clean it, no problem. If one area looks worse just really soak with with waterless and let it remove the worrisome stuff on it own then hit again with waterless and good microfiber towel.

The Adam's line is pretty awesome.
I love the waterless wash. I use their single ply microfiber towels as well. I recently ordered their waterless wash waffle weave microfiber towels. Supposed to work better with waterless wash. I have yet to try them.

quietpeen · Sep 13, 2019

tones2SS said:
The Adam's line is pretty awesome.
I love the waterless wash. I use their single ply microfiber towels as well. I recently ordered their waterless wash waffle weave microfiber towels. Supposed to work better with waterless wash. I have yet to try them.

Little money saver. Stop buying waterless wash and buy the rinseless and mix it 16:1 and it’s basically the same thing.

tones2SS · Sep 13, 2019

quietpeen said:
Little money saver. Stop buying waterless wash and buy the rinseless and mix it 16:1 and it’s basically the same thing.

I'll have to look into that!
Thanks.

ramportin1 · Sep 22, 2019

I two bucket foam cannon whenever I get a day that isn't dumping or whatever, otherwise he just stays dirty. Without water and foam you will be scratching paint that is that kind of dirty. Using hot water in your buckets keeps the fingers warm for a little bit at least [emoji23].
Then again I've also put a garbage bag on me and washed my truck in pouring sideways rain as well, which I dont reccomend lol

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Winter time wash method - Rinse less/Waterless ?

Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Member

Senior Member

Member

Senior Member

U.S. MARINE VETERAN

Embrace the skeptisism

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Sickest member here

Similar threads

Forum statistics

Share this page