Topic: Winter Grime vs Touchless Car Wash

[makuribu]

As far as I can tell, all of the car washes here in Kingston are touchless. I took the minivan in to one on a mild winter day (it seems so long ago...) to get rid of the rime of salt and sand. The salt was removed, which isn't too big a surprise since it's water soluble. On the other hand, the other dirt was still firmly in place. I understand not wanting to have a rotating brush scour scratches into your paint, but is there something in between touchless and Brillo pad? Hand washing with a chamois is not my idea of a fun way to spend a sunny winter morning.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

If you take it to a wand wash, you can focus on problem areas yourself.

Also, some touchless washes work better than others.

[tortoise]

Big fan of the wand wash, after going to drive through places for many years.  You can really get at the suspension components, underbody and wheel wells.

In the winter I don't really care if it gets 100% clean.  It's going to get dirty in a few days anyway.  Priority number 1 is to get the salt off.

[Firm]

There's no better option that a proper handwash at home where you can properly hose out everything underneath. This time of year we don't have that luxury so the coin-op wash wand is the next best thing. Sometimes I'll go really late at night an bring my own bucket, soap, sponge, etc...then just use the wash wand like I would my garden hose at home to do a 'handwash'.

Touchless is OK once and awhile for a quick cleanup, but don't expect the car to come out looking spotless. Some are better than others though.

The DTS was super salty on the weekend, so I took it through a touchless (I believe this is the first time I've EVER taken a car that I actually own through an automated wash of any kind). It did OK at getting rid of the worst of the salt. When I got home (it was around -5, but sunny) I wiped it down with some waterless wash product and a couple microfiber cloths to get the residue off. Came out decent for a winter job on black car.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Big fan of the wand wash, after going to drive through places for many years.  You can really get at the suspension components, underbody and wheel wells.

In the winter I don't really care if it gets 100% clean.  It's going to get dirty in a few days anyway.  Priority number 1 is to get the salt off.

I will usually alternate between wand wash and touchless.  I like touchless wash because it has the undercarriage wash to get the underside of the vehicle that I usually can't get with the wand.  But then, with the wand, I can get inside the wheel wells, and do a little more detailed work. 

[tortoise]

I dunno.  I think bending down and hosing the underbody does a better job than the car wash.  I always found the underbody spray was cut off way too soon.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

I dunno.  I think bending down and hosing the underbody does a better job than the car wash.  I always found the underbody spray was cut off way too soon.

You like spending a lot of time on your knees in a dark, humid environment, getting sprayed? 

Scaerio...calling Scaerio…   

[tortoise]

Well, due to knee issues I can't actually kneel, so I'm safe for now.

[Fobroader]

Coin wash for the win. Usually take the Jeep and wifes work truck for a $8 buck splash every week to get the grime and salt off.

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[Scaerio]

I dunno.  I think bending down and hosing the underbody does a better job than the car wash.  I always found the underbody spray was cut off way too soon.

You like spending a lot of time on your knees in a dark, humid environment, getting sprayed? 

Scaerio...calling Scaerio…   

 

I might have a video from last weekend if you’re interested...

[rrocket]

If I've ever been dissatisfied with a touchless, I complain and they usually let me go through again.

[Firm]

I dunno.  I think bending down and hosing the underbody does a better job than the car wash.  I always found the underbody spray was cut off way too soon.

You like spending a lot of time on your knees in a dark, humid environment, getting sprayed? 

Scaerio...calling Scaerio…   

 

I might have a video from last weekend if you’re interested...

 

[mlin32]

In the winter when it's too cold, or when my previous apartment shut off the car wash water (i miss this perk btw), I just took it to any car wash that did a good job. Life's too short to worry about miniscule scratches from brushed car washes.

Here in Europe, Germany mostly has brush car washes only. I can use the self spray stations in France, but then I'm often rushed and generally the rules are you're not supposed to bring your own soap/brush. So I mostly just use the automated wash.

[tenpenny]

I just go to the coin op place every couple of weeks, when the temp hits something above -5, and try to hose off underneath as well as the salt and crap, using only the rinse setting.  Once spring of some sort arrives, I'll do a proper wash.