It can be quite difficult to wash our car, if we live in a cold climate. In fact, if it is freezing cold, washing a car can be quite unpleasant. Thin film of water and shampoo solution on the car surface may freeze quickly. If we apply more solution, the frozen layers will add up on the car surface, making it impossible to wash the car properly.
Wax, polish and other car care products could also be affected by cold temperature, causing them to fail to function properly. Also, water may freeze on the pavement around the car, making the area slippery and more dangerous. Our hands and toes could get numb very quickly; in fact many people would simply give up and make a hot chocolate in the kitchen.
In general, it is still necessary to regularly wash our car during the cold weather, because excess salt, grime and dirt could accumulate on our car. If left sitting, it could cause corrosion and other damage. Thankfully, there are things we can do to wash the car in cold conditions. First of all, we should be properly wrapped up and clothed, so we will be able to conserve body heat. In any case, we should avoid causing our extremities to get wet and too cold. Waterproof gloves and boots are essential gears that we need to wear, if we want to wash our more comfortably in cold weather.
The next thing we do is to wait until mid-day, preferably when the sky is clearer and the sun is shining. When the sun is at the highest point, the temperature should also be the highest in the day. If possible, the car should be exposed to sunlight to increase the overall surface temperature. This will prevent the water layer from freezing. It is also a good idea to let the car running for at least 10 minutes before washing the car. The warmth from the engine will raise the temperature, at least at the front part of the car. The interior, windows and mirror heaters should also be turned on.
While the engine and heater are running, we could take the time to prepare our equipment and fill the wash bucket. Again, it is a good idea to use hot water to wash the car and by the time we use it to wash the car, it should already reach normal temperature. Hot water should be used for both the pre-rinse and rinsing stages, so we should make sure to have enough supply for it.
We shouldn’t use the outdoor water tap, because it will be nearly frozen. The best way is to use a hose that can be connected with the indoor hot water supply. This should be an effective way to allow us use warm for washing the car. Fortunately, we can wash our car less often during the winter, because there’s much less dust and mud is frozen.