I was washing my Mini and Volvo this weekend, and while filling my 5 gallon wash bucket with with warm water in the kitchen sink, I was wondering what is the choice of the folks on this forum.

I have been using warm water for the last 10 years for two reasons. In the winter, it helps keep my hands from freezing, and in the summer, it makes it easier to remove bug butts.

What's your thoughts?

 

I just set the bath tap to the middle, so about room temperature. Not warm or cold. I've never noticed a difference better cold or warm water, other than my hand freezes when I use cold water.

 

Ditto. Luke warm from April thru November. But December thru March, a bit warmer (sometimes a good bit warmer) to keep the digits from falling off.

 

I like the idea of warm wash water... kinder to the hands in the winter and I think a good potential to help with bug nastiness in the summer. However, I personally just end up sucking it up and using the fairly cold water that comes out of our hose. The sink is pretty far away from our detailing bay and wash area and I always seem to be in a hurry!

So, I give a thumbs up for the concept of warm water although my actual use is cool water primarily because I'm often in a hurry.

-Heather

 

Since I use the two bucket method for washing, I fill one at the sink with hot water then pour half into the other and top off both with the hose.

 

When I lived in memphis I would use whatever came out of the hose so in the summer it would be luke warm and in the winter a little chilly. Since I moved to indiana I found the hard water won't give a good lather and had to start using inside water that came through the water softener. I still use the hose water to rinse for ease of use. I really need to get some filters on that thing

 

One additional note from my use. I use the two bucket wash method, and in the winter, both are warm, and in the summer only the wash bucket is warm.

 

I tend to use warm water in the summer and cold water in the winter.

 

I use slightly warmer than luke warm in both the wash and rinse buckets (I also use 2-bucket method). When we did some remodeling a few years ago, I installed at hot tap outside near where I wash the cars. It worked out really well.

 

Very Nice!!!

 

watever that comes out of the tap...

cold? i wear rubber gloves or use my Griot's washmitt with a pole.

 

Damn, ken, I always knew you loved detailing, but wow................

 

like i tell my neighbors, it's in the tools.

 

 

this fall is going to be super easy with that soap dispensing hose nozzle
and the mitt on a pole.

im going to use my washbucket as rinse water for the mitt on a pole.

 

You gotta post a pic of you using the mitt-on-a-pole !

 

i feel kinda ghey using it but keeps the girls away.

 

I heard once that you shouldn't wash a cold car with warm water. I don't recall the rationale behind it, though.

 

Warm is okay, but not hot. You put HOT (like nearly boiling) water on cold windows and you are risking a crack. I had a friend who put hot water on the door glass to try to thaw it out after a winter storm with freezing rain. Not a good idea.

 

I like to let the hose sit in the sun for a while, gets me enough warm water to fill up one of my buckets. The rinse bucket is cold simply because I usually empty it midway through the wash.