Detailing Withdrawal

UncleDavy

UncleDavy

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I am a winter kind of guy and I love the cold weather but I also love washing and detailing my cars in my driveway. Unfortunately on a 25 degree day like today, I was not able to do my normal routine with hose and multiple wash buckets. I was able to do a rinseless in the garage and it eased my need for a detailing fix. It seems like I go through a detailing withdrawal when I am not able to a full detail due to weather, time restraints, etc. It almost seems like a type of depression, then I feel great once I am able to do a detailing session. Do you guys go through something similar? Some people consider detailing an obsession but I consider it therapy.
 
UncleDavy said:
I am a winter kind of guy and I love the cold weather but I also love washing and detailing my cars in my driveway. Unfortunately on a 25 degree day like today, I was not able to do my normal routine with hose and multiple wash buckets. I was able to do a rinseless in the garage and it eased my need for a detailing fix. It seems like I go through a detailing withdrawal when I am not able to a full detail due to weather, time restraints, etc. It almost seems like a type of depression, then I feel great once I am able to do a detailing session. Do you guys go through something similar? Some people consider detailing an obsession but I consider it therapy.
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Davy - yes right there with you!!! You are not alone my friend! Crazy, but I always try to find a way to detail despite the weather in NJ. This weekend we had a little light snow Friday night that melted away early Saturday. Despite the shock of neighbors passing by, I took to opportunity to do an exterior wash of the wife's Audi A4 (2 bucket wash with my power washer connected to an 8 gallon tank of warm water). Dressed the tires, cleaned the glass, spray waxed the paint and wheels, and did a thorough interior cleaning and leather conditioning. The car didn't need any paint correction, and the week prior I applied McKees 37 Hi Def Sealant to it, which BTW made washing it this time a BREEZE!!!! The small amount of salt spray on the car rinsed off very easily with mist from the power washer. It also sheeted water very impressively.

P.S. Had Grandma scheduled for a detail session today on her Ford 500 but she cancelled on me citing she needed to clean her house! I didn't tell her as much, but I was disappointed!!! I'll talk her into a wash session this week!! Wait, come to think about it, she is due for her yearly AIO session! So she'd better bring a good book over to read, she's going to be here a few hours! (LOL)

ScottH
 
ScottH said:
Davy - yes right there with you!!! You are not alone my friend! Crazy, but I always try to find a way to detail despite the weather in NJ. This weekend we had a little light snow Friday night that melted away early Saturday. Despite the shock of neighbors passing by, I took to opportunity to do an exterior wash of the wife's Audi A4 (2 bucket wash with my power washer connected to an 8 gallon tank of warm water). Dressed the tires, cleaned the glass, spray waxed the paint and wheels, and did a thorough interior cleaning and leather conditioning. The car didn't need any paint correction, and the week prior I applied McKees 37 Hi Def Sealant to it, which BTW made washing it this time a BREEZE!!!! The small amount of salt spray on the car rinsed off very easily with mist from the power washer. It also sheeted water very impressively.

P.S. Had Grandma scheduled for a detail session today on her Ford 500 but she cancelled on me citing she needed to clean her house! I didn't tell her as much, but I was disappointed!!! I'll talk her into a wash session this week!! Wait, come to think about it, she is due for her yearly AIO session! So she'd better bring a good book over to read, she's going to be here a few hours! (LOL)

ScottH
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Thanks for the reassurance Scott. I am a Jersey boy myself, born in Jersey City and raised in Edison. Yesterday was actually warm enough for a driveway detail but I was helping a friend move into a new apartment. That made me feel good but the salt on my car made me crazy. Today's garage session took the edge off but I was not able to do the wheel wells like I normally do.
As far as grandma is concerned, her car should always come first. Perhaps you do a mobile session at her house.
 
Lol I went through the same thing this whole week. I would get home from work and pace around the house due to my anxiety from having 2 dirty cars. On Friday it finally made it about freezing so I ran outside and did one car before dark and finally did the other today. Always funny seeing the neighbors walk by looking at us like we are crazy for cleaning cars in the cold. I miss living in Miami this time of year.

You are definitely not alone!

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DETAILROOKIE said:
Lol I went through the same thing this whole week. I would get home from work and pace around the house due to my anxiety from having 2 dirty cars. On Friday it finally made it about freezing so I ran outside and did one car before dark and finally did the other today. Always funny seeing the neighbors walk by looking at us like we are crazy for cleaning cars in the cold. I miss living in Miami this time of year.

You are definitely not alone!

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Pacing around the house from anxiety? I love it! I am known in my neighborhood as the crazy guy who washes his cars in the winter.
 
The struggle is real with us. Lol

What method do you use for your rinseless washes? I recently purchased ONR Wash and Wax and have never done a rinseless wash before. I figured I'd give it a shot for when the temps really drop.

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DETAILROOKIE said:
The struggle is real with us. Lol

What method do you use for your rinseless washes? I recently purchased ONR Wash and Wax and have never done a rinseless wash before. I figured I'd give it a shot for when the temps really drop.

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I have been using Wolfgang Uber Rinseless with a two bucket system. One bucket has the rinseless solution and the other bucket has clean water with a grit guard. Wash and dry one panel at a time. If the grime is really bad I start with a waterless wash presoak that consists of 2/3 oz Wolfgang Uber and 32 oz of distilled water. The heaviest grime is usually on the side panels so the waterless wash removes the dirt and prevents it from getting into the rinseless solution bucket.
 
To manage withdrawals I made this today...
 
Mr. Tommy that looks like some type of hose extension. I also find myself mixing solutions, washing and stacking towels, straightening out the detailing cabinet just to be a part of the process.
 
Forgot to add---It's an undercarriage washer. Now, I can do something about the salt rather than fretting about it! grin.

Tom
 
TMQ said:
Forgot to add---It's an undercarriage washer. Now, I can do something about the salt rather than fretting about it! grin.

Tom
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That is a great apparatus. I usually lay on the ground and squirt the hose in any area I can reach. I did treat the undercarriage of my truck with Fluid Film.
 
Only took an half hour - 40 min to make it.

Will test it tmw---hope it works!

Tom
 
This is my thread. I hadn't washed my car in two weeks and it was killing me. Finally did a rinseless last night. Then somehow I "had to" stay at home while the baby slept and I got a couple hours to polish the bumper. Did it need it? Probably not.


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I scheduled todays wash with my wife a few days ago. We have a 3month old and its been at least a month since my last wash, and 3 months since i did the wifes last. We had 3 small snows lately, so the salt is crazy. Im sure they put down more salt then we actually had in snow!

Anyways both SUV’s done in under 2hours, and that included some claying, so that i could prep for polish and sealant on mine.

Either way, I was very thankful for 45degrees and an awesome wife!
 
UncleDavy said:
It seems like I go through a detailing
withdrawal when I am not able to do
a full detail due to weather, time re-
straints, etc.

Do you guys go through something similar?
Click to expand...
I don’t really have the time to exper-
ience any sort of detailing related with-
drawal symptoms...I'm way too freakin'
anal—about everything—not just vehicles.


Bob
 
I have a heated garage for my "therapy", but I do long for the days when I have the door open and can use the hose to wash my cars in the driveway. Also hate having to squeegy out the garage after a wash in the winter. I definitely have to get out there and do some sort of detailing though. I have a carry bag of my goto supplies that I bring out to the garage with me as all my detailing products are inside for the winter.
 
TMQ, let us know how it works for you! During winter's "salt-fest", I'll go to the coin-op place and power wash the undercarriage best I can...but I worry that I'm not getting it rinsed as good as it should be. Winter salting season is the *only* time I'm tempted to do the tunnel wash.
 
At the risk of being labeled a 'Detailing Heretic' I'm actually kinda glad the 'season' is somewhat over...as is my Credit Card.

Famous last words...
 
I can totally relate. Kind of give up the hobby during the winter months. When the temps do break like yesterday, I do get outside and do a good traditional wash. Only other good thing is all the great 25% off sales. One could place that big order and be ready for spring. If funds would allow, I would be doing this. For one who is use to washing every weekend, winter does kill the hobby.
 
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