Question for the Northerner Detailing Gurus

[Tru-Blu]

Pek, Kustomizing, and whoever else is inclined to answer on this:

I live in Michigan and winters weather can get pretty low on the temp guage (mind you, not as low as some of you deal with), and was wondering about my detailing stuff. I have it on a shelving unit that sits next to the inside wall of the house, but the garage is not heated.

Do you guys recommend taking all the chemicals/waxes inside when the temp drops below freezing, or should they be ok where they are at due to being up against the wall that is part of the internal house structure? I know that most chemicals have a much lower freezing point than water, but didn't know if the colder temps hurt their effectiveness by leaving sit in the garage during winter.

I really don't have any exotic or high-dollar polishes or waxes (yet), but still don't want to make what I do have (Meguiars/Zymol level of quality) any less effective than what it already may be.

TRU - Wax in.... Wax out (to be said in your best Pat Morita/Karate Kid voice)

 

[pektel]

I've moved all my stuff inside for the winter. polishes/waxes are the worst to freeze, qd's and car wash isn't as big of a deal.

It's 10 minutes of your time for peace of mind.

I keep all my waxes in a cool area of the house. The rest of my stuff sits in the laundry room on special shelving dedicated to it. This pic is before this summer's buying streak. I'm now out of space on the shelves:

 

[kustomizingkid]

Everything goes inside for me... don't want to even risk it...

 

[Tru-Blu]

ok, let's "hypothetically" say that I left the stuff in the garage last winter. Are we talking total fubar here, or should everything be ok if I were to "hypothetically" take inside for this winter?

TRU - is wondering if fubar will ever be distributed overseas

 

[pektel]

I believe we have distributed fubar in every country to oppose us.

 

[pektel]

Taken from another site:

Storage

The chemical composition of waxes rarely ever change regardless of what form it is in, whether it is melted to a semi-liquid or remains as a semi-solid. Temperature has little to no effect as far as inhibiting the shelf life of wax, a cool temperatures and constant humidity will slow the evaporation of solvents from the wax, thus keeping the wax softer and easier to use over a longer period of time. Do not allow to freeze and avoid temperature swings

Storage Temperature (Product)

Car care products should not be stored at temperatures below 35 - 40oF, if they freeze they will become unstable and therefore unusable, ideal storage temperature range- 50- 75oF with an average humidity range. Most car care products have a ‘useful life’ of approximately 2-3 years provided they are stored as above.

Do not store at temperature extremes (i.e. very hot or cold) and avoid extreme temperature swings as the chemicals will become unstable. Most car care products (inc
Polymers) will separate and are no longer usable after being subjected to freezing temperatures

Shelf-Life

a) Polymers have a shelf life of approx 3-5 years if kept in their original containers and stored at temperatures as above

b) Waxes will last almost indefinitely, provided that they are stored a sealed in their original containers and in the refrigerator once opened. The liquids should last 18 months if stored at normal room temperature.

Detailing School Article (TOGWT) - http://www.detailingbliss.com/forum/f8/carnauba-brasil-wax-7886.html

 

[kustomizingkid]

If some of your stuff froze and it still works well than whatever... lol

That being said I wouldn't let it freeze if it is avoidable...

 

[Tru-Blu]

Well, I don't think the stuff ever froze because it was right up against an inside wall of the house. However, the snippet that Pek posted does not give me a warm fuzzy feeling.

I'm not too happy about possibly throwing out approx. $200 of product because I let it stay in the garage last winter.

TRU - getting "waxed off" at myself due to my negligence

 

[KD00LS]

All products inside for sure. Except tools...(microfibers/brushes/etc.) The cold will definitely get to them if you don't bring them inside.

 

[Former Member]

i wouldnt worry about it to much. Every dealership ive worked in leaves chemicals/cleaning supplys unattended in garages/bays that arnt heated. aslong as your garage door is shut most of the time they shouldnt get to the "freezing" point. Some of the chemicals you refer to wont freeze anyways. if you can atleast keep them towards the back of your garage. If its a detached garage then thats a different story, but it still shouldnt get to the freezing point. Many a cold winters day have i gone to work where the thermostat reads in the 50's befor i fire up the heaters.

then again...it has only been stealerships that i work at and we all know how shady they are. perhaps we go through them fast enough that it doesnt matter. Do as you please

 

[KD00LS]

Dealerships and detailing do not go hand in hand.

 

[pektel]

Dealerships and detailing do not go hand in hand.

Werd.

 

[JWerner2]

Im simply getting a cheap second hand oil based space heater for the garage. I chose oil over the type with a red hot heating element so fumes from aerosols dont catch fire. How ever Im still going to be keeping my products inside. If you have the time and small amount of space to store it why not? But, if you can get one sufficient enough to heat the entire garage and keep it steady as well as afford the extra electricity then keep the stuff in the garage.

 

[pektel]

I have a torpedo heater for heating the garage in the winter, but only have it on while I'm washing the car.