Rain in the forecast, damn! To wash or not to wash...(Time sensitive 5/12/09)

[polepino]

As much as I love driving my car in the elements I also enjoy giving my car the full hand wash and wax treatment every once in a while. As being such, I haven't hand washed my car since last October. I have been taking it to those touchless spray washes just to keep it clean during the winter. I know, I know the automatic washes can be dangerous, heard it before. I just hate hand washing in the winter and standing out in the cold, plus I'm a little lazy too. Anyways, that's besides the point.

As it stands right now, the weather in the DC area has warmed up enough to where I'm comfortable doing the hand wash thing. Unfortunately, these past couple of weeks in May have been deluded with rain. I finally have a three day stretch this week where it looks like I'll be able to wash, clay bar(for the first time), and wax/detail my ride. Of course after that it's back to rain

So the question is, do I bite the bullet and just finally detail my car now after seven months of no hand wash and let the rain come? OR Do I wait another week or so in the event that the rain goes away longer than a stretch of a few days? HELP!

[kurisu]

Originally Posted by polepino

So the question is, do I bite the bullet and just finally detail my car now after seven months of no hand wash and let the rain come? OR Do I wait another week or so in the event that the rain goes away longer than a stretch of a few days? HELP!

If you know you have at least time to do the full hand wash, clay, as well as apply wax before the rain starts, then go for it ! the car will be much easier to clean after the rain stops, and it will be protected as well.

[cadfael_tex]

+1. I'd at least do the wash but I'd wait for the clay and wax if (and only if) I wasn't sure it would have a day to cure before the rain came.

[kenchan]

it's your dd. it's going to get dirty anyway. just do a quick wash and some Hydro.

[lotsie]

I say go for it. As has been mentioned, it will be easier to keep clean after wards. Plus, unless you live in a desert, it's always going to rain

Mark

[kenchan]

yes, even on my garaged cars it rains some times.

wiper inserts are to arrive today from outmotoring. such a great store they are.

[countryboyshane]

Definitely do a full blown detail. When you wash next time, all you have to do to bring back the ridiculous shine is to use a quick detailer product!

[galoki]

hmmm..I've been deluded by rain before too. I know you meant deluged...it was just funny when I read it. ...I'm bored today.

[polepino]

Originally Posted by galoki

hmmm..I've been deluded by rain before too. I know you meant deluged...it was just funny when I read it. ...I'm bored today.

Lol, didn't realize I wrote deluded, thats what I get for writing right before I go to bed.

As for the rest of you blokes, I've decided to do as much as I can before rain. I'm taking a little rest after I've just washed but soon to start the clay and then Prima Banana Gloss it later and all the other stuff(windows/wheels/etc). I'm gonna leave the interior for when I wash the car again and have less exterior to do. I should have all Wednesday to enjoy the clean car before its supposed to rain on Thursday.

[polepino]

Well I was up 'til 1230am finishing up but I got all I wanted to do out of the way. Decided to take a road trip today and I snapped a few photos of the ride, sorry for the blur and the fact that I'm a whore for the 3/4 shot.

Right before I rode out, shine courtesy of Prima Banana Gloss


At Great Falls National Park, the MD side




Lol, and of course who could forget... the money shot.. yeah I saw it when I got back to my car


Anyways, there are more non-car pics of my road trip in my album.

Thanks again for everybody's input and helping to push me wash it up even though it's scheduled to rain tomorrow and this weekend

[kenchan]

Originally Posted by polepino

Thanks again for everybody's input and helping to push me wash it up even though it's scheduled to rain tomorrow and this weekend

yah, sorry for wasting your time. jk i think it looks good. your car's shine deserves a better camera (or camera person? )

[countryboyshane]

I agree, time for a better camera.

Get rid of that Kodak (wild guess)!

[polepino]

Haha thanks guys, actually its a Fuji! Maybe I'll try again before it starts to rain today ...see if I can't get better quality

[kenchan]

im no camera person but usually i get better pictures on cloudy days since i dont have those fansy lens filters.

btw, my OCD side's telling me that you can probably
clean up under that window seal... you have like some
wax or gunk remains along the bottom of the seal.

see if you can take it off by using your MF towel and
some QD. don't bear down into the paint because you
will generate heat and induce haze/swirl. if it doesn't
come off, try some Hydro.

if that doesn't work try some clay.

[polepino]

Originally Posted by kenchan

im no camera person but usually i get better pictures on cloudy days since i dont have those fansy lens filters.

btw, my OCD side's telling me that you can probably
clean up under that window seal... you have like some
wax or gunk remains along the bottom of the seal.

see if you can take it off by using your MF towel and
some QD. don't bear down into the paint because you
will generate heat and induce haze/swirl. if it doesn't
come off, try some Hydro.

if that doesn't work try some clay.

Huh? I just clayed it right before these pics. If your talking about the bird droppings pic, I just thought that was part of the black trim... theres like this small black rubber right under the beltline. I think its just the way the sun's hitting it, follow the line from near the sideview mirror in the shadow. Could be wrong though. Also thanks for bringing up the haze/swirl if I press down too hard. I always wondered why that would appear because I just washed the damn thing! Just keep the towel light eh?

[Rixter]

Originally Posted by lotsie

Plus, unless you live in a desert, it's always going to rain

Mark

In Vancouver it always rains, and since I'm on my bike whenever it's nice, it seems Spike only ever gets a run when its wet and miserable outside. Poor thing