Down the detailing rabbit hole.

PA DETAILER

PA DETAILER

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Hit me hard the other day. We clean, fret and obsess over our vehicles. You know the obsession. They have to be PERFECT. To the point where we never totally just enjoy the vehicle for what it is. The drive and feeling. Anyone else? Crazy hobby. No doubt.
 
I’ve learned to be able to turn on the detailer mind and turn it off.

When I’m being paid big bucks by a classic car customer I can go total detail nerd, full bore, all out.

Once they leave with it I can give my car a one bucket boars hair brush wash, throw tire shine on it and call it a day.

My marriage wouldn’t last if I didn’t learn to turn it off.!


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Finally got out of the detailing rabbit hole :) I have my favorites to do a nice job on our cars. Spend about an hour and when I am finished everything is in its place.
No worries :)
 
I think that there are some who are OCD and are in full detail mode on every vehicle. Others realize that there is a difference between a World of Wheels car and a daily driver. One will never look like the other and a lot of time is wasted trying to do that.
 
I feel you on this. I'm trying to avoid it now by washing my coated car with a ceramic infused wash (ech2o) and misting with a ceramic QD. Nothing worse when I fully detail the car and all the sudden unpredicted rain or snow occur. I cancel plans to avoid driving my freshly detailed car lol. Even though I'm one to drive in any weather.

I do wish I was oblivious and couldn't see any imperfections. But I have to say it's always nice to have the glossiest vehicle anywhere you go.
 
Yes, countless times I didn’t use my car in order to keep it clean. I’ve picked up and umbrella and walked under rain in order to keep it clean! I wish it was easier to not obsess about it.
 
I avoid driving in the rain too. All the time. I’ve opted to walk in the rain instead. I know, definitely car crazy!
 
While I don't avoid driving my FJ in the rain, in fact I sometimes actively seek mud, see below, I don't like my Mum's Qashqai being out in the rain, especially if it's likely to dry outside, it's very prone to water spots.

I've never owned a brand new car, so they've all come pre-christened with some form of damage, that sort of blunts any OCD about any future damage. I will always do my best to make them look as good as I can, but new damage isn't going to make me cry. In fact today I noticed some new clear coat failure due to old age, and usage, and a new scratch, possibly from off-roading a couple of weeks ago, or someone in a carpark.

For me it's just as much about the process as it is about the end result. Today for instance I had to clay off some Plastidip overspray, then decided to put some Collinite 845 on the clayed areas, then did the whole car, because it was fun, and super glossy when I was done.
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Anyone remember the spray on mud for the suburban soccer mom-mobile?
 
It comes down to individual ownership and age i remember when my mum bought her very first new car for herself, and i would be cleaning it everyday well the interior.

I'd start with the wheels, vacuum, wipe down the interior and yes looking back vacuum the engine bay. You could eat off it it was that clean, but a couple year's of doing that same routine took a toll on my mental health, and it wasn't fair to my mother who wanted to enjoy her new car, so one day i turned my back and said ok i won't clean it again.

That lasted a year and in that time the engine bay compartment is trashed being a white car it's FULL of dirt, dust and insects oil from service's etc,

I'm now cleaning the exterior and giving the interior a weekly clean because of my mum's health, i think for a 6 year old and a bit car it looks good except for the rock chips.

I think the paint is "harder than Chuck Norris" Im the MAN
 
I almost...and i say almost, enjoyed maintaining the buick more right b4 i just paint corrected and coated it.

You see...its the daily driver, and its straight black. It see dust/ and or mud every day of the work week. So while still being careful when washing it but not being crazy ocd about every little imperfection was a nice change of pace. We always got complimented on the car...even when it still had its very slight paint imperfections. Just shows that most people do in fact not see what we see.( the flaws)

BUT!......very few things are more satisfying than enjoying that car after a nice wash. Im not even talking about needing a full face of makup for a night out on the town. To me there is just something about that simple grandpap looking car that i enjoy.

Some are just a natural beauty...one that doesnt need any makeup to look good. But when it does get the makeup...wooo weee does it catch a few eyes

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All my personal cars are junk. I have my gf's old 2004 GMC Canyon (yellow single cab), and my Dad's old, rusted 2006 Dodge Charger.

I'm sentimental and perpetually broke, hate payments, and prefer to save, thus a nicer vehicle is a ways away.

However, even with Cheri's Jeep Sahara 4×E she took possession of in 2021, we don't really obsess over it too much. She actually more fussy than I am. I coated it with Optimum Gloss Coat (my vehicles wear Opti-Seal through the winter. Beads terrible, buy has hung on admirably - its not really a beader freshly applied either..), which is a relatively low maintenance coating, and wash it as needed. It was more difficult in the colder temps, but the occasional touchless automatic was used a few times.

Last weekend I gave it a good bath with Power Clean and ONR and it looks like I just polished and waxed it.

I think I've mentioned elsewhere that when the next vehicle I purchase arrives I might be a little more "attentive" than I've been with these. That poor Canyon... it lived a life of luxury with Cheri. It's been garaged here since 2015, pampered washed, fluffed, buffed, etc. As soon as I get it that clear coat started flaking off the hood, roof, and pillars.. And I thought I over-polished it. Nope, that stuff was as thick as a brand new cigarette wrapper! And that Charger... One of my friends was busting my chops because he's "never seen such perfect paint on a rust bucket!
 
I try to keep my vehicles in the best shape possible, but it will not stop me from driving them in any weather at any time. Cars are meant to be driven and enjoyed.

When the bug first bit me, I obsessed over it and would get upset at every bug splatter and dust particle and time spent pursuing constant perfection should have been applied to more important things. I quickly realized that my vehicles stay in a perfectly detailed state for on a few hours at best. The minute I back out of the garage, they are getting dusty/dirty/splattered/spotted etc.

I will do periodic polishing, frequent washings, to keep things looking good when able, but I won't let it affect me negatively when they aren't perfect. I celebrate when they are perfect and simply look forward to getting our vehicles back to that state when they aren't.
 
Agree. They are meant to be driven! I also keep the truck looking the best I can. But it is driven and outside 24/7. For me it has always been more therapy than anything else. For me A vehicle has never been just a appliance.
 
A never-ending battle. My truck is outside 24/7 and sees off-road use. Keeping it looking new requires constant upkeep. But I enjoy it, so I don't mind doing it. And as PA DETAILER said, it's more therapy than anything else.
 
I don't have the luxury of a garage queen or deciding not to drive if it's raining. I don't mind driving in the rain as much as driving on wet roads when it's not raining. Car gets dirtier then.
 
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