^^ :impatient


i think im going to fall off my seat.

 

Like this

Mark

 

I'm recommending she switch to a yellow pad on a PC and use lots of Amigo!

 

Here's what I did last winter - it worked all the way until the temp got to the single digits. It's not as good as a "proper" bucket wash, but it helps:

BRING: 100% cotton towels, microfiber cloths, Hydro and Slick.

Go to a coin-op place, and use the hose to remove as much grit, salt and grime as possible. Remember to spray the undercarriage, as well as the wheel wells very well.

As soon as the time runs out, mist the still-wet car QUICKLY with Hydro, then dry with the cotton towels. If you move fast, and the temp is over single digits, the bay should stay warm enough to keep the Hydro from freezing. If it is STOP DRYING, as the ice will scratch the finish. We found it helps if you have TWO people, one on each side, to rapidly dry off the car. Be sure to do inside the door wells and the glass (all sides) to keep the doors from freezing when you drive off.

If it's warm enough that the water isn't freezing by now, use Slick to remove the trace grime that spraying never removes. Because you hosed away the bulk of the grime with the hose, the remaining grit should not swirl the paint in my experience.

If it IS too cold and the water is freezing, go home and park in the garage. You can either put a space heater in there to raise the temp to just above freezing, or wait for a warm(er) day. The point is to remove the worst of the grime with minimal contact with the painted surface.

Doing this about once a week (or less when it got really really cold) resulted in a fairly clean-looking car, even in the worst of the grime months, but with a finish that was only lightly cobwebbed come Spring.

 

 

Thanks Matt - good tips - except I'm in the South - cold isn't the problem here... lack of water is... and I just HATE the wand wash outfits...

But I have a PC and pads and polishes, so I guess I should stop whining.

Chuck and Mark,

 

Yeah the wand wash is the only option here once the outside hose just spits out ice cubes

The problem here is that the wand wash places are covered, but no doors, so they turn into ice palaces so you take your life in your hands sliding around while washing the car.

Back home up in Winterpeg they were enclosed and heated, and some you paid by time, so I could actually do a proper job.

Mark

 

ords was right, i had like 7-8mm of ice on my civic when i got back
from shopping in the snow.

 

I was hoping to get out and give babaganoosh a good washing this weekend. So far the temp has not risen above 21%. A little to cold for running water...

 

We went out last night in freezing rain, roads were just wet though, missed the salt trucks. Poco's roof and boot are covered in ice, just going to let it melt off today as temps should get above freezing.

Mark

 

Another reason it may be quiet here is because the Detailing forum is no longer showing up on the Latest Topics List Seems our threads here are not MINI enough.


Mark

 

Too friggin cold dude.
I want to buy some property so I can build a shop and heated garage. Might even put a shanty on it too.
I'm waiting for the loan crisis to peak and then I will pounce.

 

A heated garage is in our plans too The carport is a bit breezy

Mark

 

Yeah, that's crazy! How come?

 

Just one of the many changes happening here on NAM. Check the Site Feedback forum for changes and updates.

Mark

 

Thanks, Mark. I am clicking less and and less on the recent topics menu ...

 

That list will be just for directly MINI topics related it seems.

Mark

 

I just use the "New Posts" option. Whatever is active shows up there.

 

To slow for me, I liked it better before

Mark

 

I carefully brush washed the loaner I have today. Too cold to put hands in water.

Maybe if I asked Santa for a heated wash bay he'd bring me one....

 

I need to give Clara a wash but it's cold. And I need to do a load of MF laundry first.

 

That's the way I've always done it...

 

Temps reached into the upper 40's this PM.

I bet somebody can guess what i was doing this afternoon !

Nooooooooooooooo... Blimey, you silly North Carolinian, you, I was washing MINIs !! All but the PW one. The fiancee has that one at her office today. But Bergey and Dr Evil are cleansed of all those road chemicals from the snow and ice this week.

They're back to being spotless and ready for the rain forecasted for this week. :impatient :impatient

BTW, anyone have any more photos of the Swirl-Free version of Linda Rhondstadt ? Those pics of Britney on the last page have turned my stomach a bit sour and now it needs something sweet.

 

Yeah, okay, guilt me into it.

If you can wash 2 MINIs in 40 degree weather, surely I can wash one in low 50s...

 

My MINI's bum is dirty and it's close to freezing here.