Outdoor car washing and drying...

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FlatFourRS

New member
I did a search and couldnt really find anything to answer my question thoroughly. So im wondering what are your opinions on washing and drying vehicles outdoors (in the shade of course)... is it safe for the paint as far as it creating small scratches from possible dust/dirt blowing onto the car as youre washing and drying the vehicle. I used to work for a detail shop where we did everything indoors because the owner believed that doing any exterior detailing outside could create scratches on the paint. All opinions are welcomed... please give reasons why with your opinions. Thanks!



Willie
 
There is no blanket answer for this. Way too many variable conditions you may have to consider. Wind, surface your working on, how close you may be to a busy road, the time of year, if a group of kids are racing their quads near by.

Like I said it goes from perfectly safe to I would't even look at the car.
 
Its in a neighborhood. Not a busy street. No kids on quads lol. Any time of the year. If that doesnt help. When do YOU think its safe?
 
I can see the owners concern at the detail shop you worked at but unless it is really windy or something obvious is near by (lawn mowing) you really don't have much to worry about. Some people use quick detailers while drying to help add in lubrication and removal of anything left behind on the paint. Plenty of pro detailers on here even polish outside.
 
Yeah i noticed that there are plenty of awesome details posted in click and brag that seem to be done outdoors. Just thought maybe there was a way of going about it. What you are saying seems to make sense. Anyone else want to chime in?
 
I've never had the opportunity to work inside :-(



I've done a few extensive details outside, and have been pleased. Note dust, wind, etc. If the detail takes longer than one day - or you're using a sealant that needs 2-3 coats over 2-3 days, you'll have to quick detail in between coats...but...overall, there's very little difference.
 
For the most part all i will be doing is washing and drying outside. I still have access to the detail shop i worked for and plan on doing anything extensive such as polishing, glazing, waxing and things of that nature indoors. The shop is a good 20 minutes away and i dont always feel like driving that distance to wash my car... at times when i do want to wash it he may not have the room for me to wash it so it becomes a hassle for me either way and i like my car to be clean when its possible.
 
I wash outside between 95 and 99 percent of the time. The biggest caveat is wind - if it's windy out, stay away from sandy areas.



If you're particularly worried, test the paint with a plastic bag for grit, etc (like you would for claying), and use a QD while drying and before polishing steps.
 
I wash my car mainly in the afternoon, and sometimes before noon.



I hate where my house is positioned because the sun will set in the front of my house where the garage is, and the sun light will reach inside the garage.



Usually I would wash on the drive way and hurry my butt off and park the car inside the garage and dry quickly before I get water spots.



Now, when the sun sets earlier during day light savings time, I can dry my car on my drive way since the house across from me is blocking the sunset.
 
My house is positioned similar to yours so i would have to do all my washing and what not in the mornings before the sun comes over to the other side. What you guys are telling me is basically what i thought but i wasnt sure and didnt want to go making any mistakes. If anyone else has anything they want to add i will greatly appreciate it. Thanks again guys!



Willie
 
FlatFourRS said:
My house is positioned similar to yours so i would have to do all my washing and what not in the mornings before the sun comes over to the other side. What you guys are telling me is basically what i thought but i wasnt sure and didnt want to go making any mistakes. If anyone else has anything they want to add i will greatly appreciate it. Thanks again guys!



Willie
Click to expand...





When it's in the afternoon, the sun light can reach all the way inside the garage, and living in FL, the temps are 100* plus. Usually when I hurry up and park the car in the garage, I would close the garage half way to block out the sun. Only think I have to hurry and dry is the rear part of my car.



If only my house was positioned across from me :grrr Then I would have plenty of shade in the afternoon, and it's a huge temp change as well.
 
We wash and do paint correction outside. We use an easyup to provide some shade and possibly eliminate some dust. As long as the car is not left out for a long time between steps I have had no problem. Except near the ocean. That seems to put a layer of something on the paint, that qd spray just makes worse. Most of our customers near the ocean get washed once a week if not twice.
 
I would say 95% of the people that wash their cars wash them outside.



Washing a car outside will not scratch the paint unless youre an idiot.
 
You shouldn't have any problems. Unless your crappy neighbor decides to be a jerk and blow leaves and lawn clippings in your direction right after you finished washing and started drying.
 
Washing outside is obviously a good idea, usually in early morning is best. If you wash in the morning in the shade, pull it into your garage to dry it, when your done, pull it into some sun and spot check for anything that you have missed. As far as dust scratches go, you really cant avoid it anywhere. I wax in my garage, pull into shade to wipe it off, and then sun to see anything that i may have missed.
 
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