do you really need warm water?

hummingbird · 8th September 2012, 09:30

hi all,
does it make a difference if i dont use warm water to wash the car with?

it is a massive pain to lug a bucket of warm water to the road from my flat, but there is a cold water tap at the bottom i could use...

what do you think?

Carson · 8th September 2012, 09:32

i use cold water and always have done i dont really see the difference but then i use a pressure washer so maybe it balances it out? id say if you have to lug a bucket of water down to the road then dont bother because you would only have half a bucket left by time you get down there anyway haha

Paul J Smith · 8th September 2012, 10:04

I've seen threads on various forums I used to frequent, that went on for pages about this subject.

In my opinion, warm water (not hot) works best to foam up your shampoo and then rinse with cold water. Hot water can break down any previously used waxes over time.

Most modern waxes are tolerant to warm water so it isn't really an issue if you wax regularly.

Depending on the time of year you must avoid thermoshock (pouring hot water on to a cold panel).

Cowboyjon · 8th September 2012, 12:43

Without getting too technical, warm water shifts dirt better than cold water.

Simples.

hummingbird · 8th September 2012, 13:06

so i used cold water in the end due to logistical simplicity.

turns out i can now use my car as a mirror! brilliant results!

robbo51 · 8th September 2012, 13:23

Warm water is always better than cold...but never hot!!

hummingbird · 8th September 2012, 13:24

dont think i could face cold water in the winter, my hand was already cold doing it at the end of 'summer'

robbo51 · 8th September 2012, 13:26

Take a camping stove and a kettle down to the tap

hummingbird · 8th September 2012, 13:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbo51

Take a camping stove and a kettle down to the tap

robbo51 · 8th September 2012, 13:34

That way you will get warm water to put in your bucket

shaunwistow · 8th September 2012, 14:25

Always warm for me & cold to rinse

Neverhadone · 8th September 2012, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowboyjon

Without getting too technical, warm water shifts dirt better than cold water.

Simples.

True it's all about he Sinner Circle:

Is you have more of one item (temperature) you can use less of the other (time, mechanical or chemical)

hummingbird · 8th September 2012, 16:42

cheers all, will experiment over time.

PS: love the sinner circle, some papers there for reading!

Kremmen · 9th September 2012, 06:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbo51

Warm water is always better than cold...but never hot!!

Oh

I come straight from the hot tap into a wash n' wax solution.

Still, doesn't seem to have had any side effects and certainly shifts the muck

Heavenly · 9th September 2012, 08:42

I generally wash cold when the temps are high but take more time. Black panel temps can raise to 80 degrees and stay there for a long time so cold water works best for me.

Peteo48 · 9th September 2012, 12:20

I've always used warm water. Mainly for comfort reasons! You can get frostbite washing your car where I live in the winter.

I avoid hot because I tend to think it must weaken any wax/protection you've got on the vehicle.

GodsUnicorn · 9th September 2012, 17:36

Fill a flask with hot water pour it in the bucket when you get to the out-door tap and top up with cold, then you just need cold water to rinse.

8th September 2012, 09:30	#1 (permalink)
hummingbird Join Date: 14th August 2012 Location: London Posts: 96 Thanks given: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	do you really need warm water? hi all, does it make a difference if i dont use warm water to wash the car with? it is a massive pain to lug a bucket of warm water to the road from my flat, but there is a cold water tap at the bottom i could use... what do you think?

Similar Threads for: do you really need warm water?
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hot Warm or Cold Water?	borse2010	Cleaning	26	24th September 2011 22:18
Oil Does oil have to be warm?	oilman	Engines and Transmission	7	10th December 2009 18:43
Warm greatings to you all	Civic Fan	Introduce yourself	2	19th November 2007 14:17
Tech Unattended warm up	dondon	Engines and Transmission	33	19th November 2007 12:38
hello and warm greetings	phil	Introduce yourself	4	9th January 2007 19:26

8th September 2012, 09:32	#2 (permalink)
Carson Coffee isnt my cup of tea Car: 2008 2.2 Type S GT NHB Join Date: 14th August 2012 Location: Kings Lynn, Norfolk, UK Posts: 492 Thanks given: 26 Thanked 46 Times in 46 Posts iTrader: (3)	i use cold water and always have done i dont really see the difference but then i use a pressure washer so maybe it balances it out? id say if you have to lug a bucket of water down to the road then dont bother because you would only have half a bucket left by time you get down there anyway haha

8th September 2012, 10:04	#3 (permalink)
Paul J Smith Supporter Join Date: 20th March 2012 Location: West Lothian Posts: 437 Thanks given: 82 Thanked 130 Times in 101 Posts iTrader: (0)	I've seen threads on various forums I used to frequent, that went on for pages about this subject. In my opinion, warm water (not hot) works best to foam up your shampoo and then rinse with cold water. Hot water can break down any previously used waxes over time. Most modern waxes are tolerant to warm water so it isn't really an issue if you wax regularly. Depending on the time of year you must avoid thermoshock (pouring hot water on to a cold panel).

8th September 2012, 12:43	#4 (permalink)
Cowboyjon Supporter Join Date: 12th August 2012 Location: Wishaw Posts: 555 Thanks given: 30 Thanked 67 Times in 62 Posts iTrader: (0)	Without getting too technical, warm water shifts dirt better than cold water. Simples.

8th September 2012, 13:06	#5 (permalink)
hummingbird Thread starter Join Date: 14th August 2012 Location: London Posts: 96 Thanks given: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	so i used cold water in the end due to logistical simplicity. turns out i can now use my car as a mirror! brilliant results!

8th September 2012, 13:23	#6 (permalink)
robbo51 Civinfo Trader Join Date: 1st July 2007 Location: Bingley, West Yorks Posts: 15,418 Thanks given: 1,100 Thanked 1,477 Times in 1,361 Posts iTrader: (8)	Warm water is always better than cold...but never hot!!

8th September 2012, 13:24	#7 (permalink)
hummingbird Thread starter Join Date: 14th August 2012 Location: London Posts: 96 Thanks given: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	dont think i could face cold water in the winter, my hand was already cold doing it at the end of 'summer'

8th September 2012, 13:26	#8 (permalink)
robbo51 Civinfo Trader Join Date: 1st July 2007 Location: Bingley, West Yorks Posts: 15,418 Thanks given: 1,100 Thanked 1,477 Times in 1,361 Posts iTrader: (8)	Take a camping stove and a kettle down to the tap

8th September 2012, 13:34	#10 (permalink)
robbo51 Civinfo Trader Join Date: 1st July 2007 Location: Bingley, West Yorks Posts: 15,418 Thanks given: 1,100 Thanked 1,477 Times in 1,361 Posts iTrader: (8)	That way you will get warm water to put in your bucket

8th September 2012, 14:25	#11 (permalink)
shaunwistow PM me for a shaunyshine Car: Type S GT-t Urban Titanium Join Date: 5th March 2010 Location: Sheffield, S6 Posts: 6,752 Thanks given: 1,978 Thanked 1,525 Times in 1,371 Posts iTrader: (21)	Always warm for me & cold to rinse

8th September 2012, 16:42	#13 (permalink)
hummingbird Thread starter Join Date: 14th August 2012 Location: London Posts: 96 Thanks given: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	cheers all, will experiment over time. PS: love the sinner circle, some papers there for reading!

9th September 2012, 08:42	#15 (permalink)
Heavenly Join Date: 12th July 2011 Location: Through Heavens Shiny Gates Posts: 515 Thanks given: 66 Thanked 176 Times in 139 Posts iTrader: (0)	I generally wash cold when the temps are high but take more time. Black panel temps can raise to 80 degrees and stay there for a long time so cold water works best for me.

9th September 2012, 12:20	#16 (permalink)
Peteo48 Supporter Car: 2007 1.8 i-vtec ES Blue Join Date: 18th August 2011 Location: Warrington, Cheshire, England. Posts: 537 Thanks given: 66 Thanked 35 Times in 35 Posts iTrader: (0)	I've always used warm water. Mainly for comfort reasons! You can get frostbite washing your car where I live in the winter. I avoid hot because I tend to think it must weaken any wax/protection you've got on the vehicle.

9th September 2012, 17:36	#17 (permalink)
GodsUnicorn Supporter Car: 2007 2.2es.5 door Red Join Date: 8th April 2012 Location: Wallsend Posts: 128 Thanks given: 43 Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts iTrader: (0)	Fill a flask with hot water pour it in the bucket when you get to the out-door tap and top up with cold, then you just need cold water to rinse.