Should I clean my car this weekend?
Poll: Should I clean my car this weekend?
Total Members Polled: 74
Discussion
Davie said:
Disagree.
A car that's not seen any polish / wax for years is much harder to clean and once washed down, they can still look old and tired what with faded trims and stained wheels. Some cars just looked utterly ruined and unloved.
Each to their own, some people see cars as tools / white goods and don't care... others see them as a expensive purchase / an asset and thus like to keep them in good order, much the same as some people don't care about their house / garden / kids / personal hygiene.
There's no point arguing the toss, some people like to spend an hour washing their cars on a Sunday, some people like to smack a small ball around 9 holes and some people like to pop round to service Bob at number 44's wife...
As for asking what to do, that's up to the individual... why should the opinion of others really matter?
The weekly wash/deeep clean as preventative is a load of nonsense. A once a year wax and washing 2-3 times a year was sufficient for my wife's white goods car to be gleaming when sold.A car that's not seen any polish / wax for years is much harder to clean and once washed down, they can still look old and tired what with faded trims and stained wheels. Some cars just looked utterly ruined and unloved.
Each to their own, some people see cars as tools / white goods and don't care... others see them as a expensive purchase / an asset and thus like to keep them in good order, much the same as some people don't care about their house / garden / kids / personal hygiene.
There's no point arguing the toss, some people like to spend an hour washing their cars on a Sunday, some people like to smack a small ball around 9 holes and some people like to pop round to service Bob at number 44's wife...
As for asking what to do, that's up to the individual... why should the opinion of others really matter?
If people enjoy washing cars more than driving them, the fine.
JonChalk said:
Bit of fun, really...........don't run my life by internet ;-)
Thing is, PH has become rather militant of late and if somebody doesn't agree then it gets rather... well all gets a bit personal sometimes which is a shame really. I'm totally with you though, I dislike a dirty car but it doesn't keep em awake, mine will easily go weeks unwashed then I may have a mad OCD spec clean but usually when that notion takes me, the weather is crap, it's freezing or like you my neighbour has opted to park in a manner that thwarts the efforts and then I find myself looking out the window, thinking of all the things I could be doing instead. Like making bacon rolls. However, I also work, have a rather mental baby, a stressed wife and all the trappings of a busy 2.4 lifestyle thus sometimes a wee hour time out, faffing around with the car is a nice break from it all. It can be quite therapeutic... and to stand back and admire your handiwork is quite satisfying. Then you drive 2 miles up the road and it's back to square one and you're left thinking well the hell did I bother...!- I* will decide whether I do it or not based on my circumstances, but always nice to hear other's views.
You said it's covered in dirt which sounds like it's more so than normal - give them a quick hose down if your hose system is decent enough. No need for the wax etc.
TartanPaint said:
I tend to wheel out the fun cars and wash them, whether or not they've been driven since last time I washed them. It's pleasurable rubbing them down with bubbles. Like having a bath with the wife, or girlfriend, or both.
Are you Swiss Toni in disguise?
Mr2Mike said:
Sorry to hijack the thread, but I'm undecided whether to have a tuna and cucumber or a chicken salad roll for lunch. Any advice appreciated, as I struggle with important life decisions like this.
Is your life so miserable that you can't take it when other people just want a bit of fun and a lighthearted forum post. So sad :-(.Off to clean mine now... hose down, then snowfoam, then two bucket method. Wheels and calipers alone take 20 minutes 
Its wonderful to see the way the light reflects off it when its not covered in grime. I find the experience to be very fulfilling, and more enjoyable than bad sex What few friends I do have tell me I need to get out more.
Its wonderful to see the way the light reflects off it when its not covered in grime. I find the experience to be very fulfilling, and more enjoyable than bad sex What few friends I do have tell me I need to get out more.MC Bodge said:
The weekly wash/deeep clean as preventative is a load of nonsense
Totally agree, haven't got the time for spending hours on a car every week... but what I mean in terms of preventative is that a car that's been waxed / protected a couple of time a year is easier to clean than one that hasn't. My old Volvo hasn't seen wax or anything like that but my other car has, so if both are snow foamed then jet washed off... the old Volvo still looks grubby and the wheels are still caked in brake dust but the other car comes up much nicer with much less time and effort needed. As such, I rarely wash the older car as it take more time/ effort / buggering about with a sponge whereas the others generally look ok after a quick rinse down and a wipe, so get done more often. Anyways, on the subject of bacon rolls...
Davie said:
The latter, tend to find the former makes the artisan bread go mushy... and somewhat dulls the taste of the hand reared spoiled pig rashers.
Very disagreeable.
Wrote a very humorous reply to this, but it looked smug and sarcastic in black and white, so will settle for:Very disagreeable.
"Wise choice."
JonChalk said:
Is your life so miserable that you can't take it when other people just want a bit of fun and a lighthearted forum post. So sad :-(.
Is your life so miserable that you see every post as someone "not taking it" when it was intended as a light-hearted forum post? So sad :-(. Chin up old boy, it's almost the weekend 
Cold said:
Save your angst and indecision by popping the car down to your local car wash emporium where ten of your Earth pounds can be exchanged for some soap suds and a cheery demeanour.
Ah. Well. I am one of those sad sacks who believe that those ten pounds will also add a whole load of swirls and scratches to my (so far) swirl and scratch-free paintwork, whilst also not cleaning it as well as I could.I also realise that it *would* be cleaner than it is now, and that I *would* be warmer than the people cleaning my car, but........
JonChalk said:
Ah. Well. I am one of those sad sacks who believe that those ten pounds will also add a whole load of swirls and scratches to my (so far) swirl and scratch-free paintwork, whilst also not cleaning it as well as I could.
I also realise that it *would* be cleaner than it is now, and that I *would* be warmer than the people cleaning my car, but........
But then, come the warmer and sunnier months, think how much fun you'll have with the orbital polisher. There's hours of entertainment to be had using the various grades of polish, rags and pads. I also realise that it *would* be cleaner than it is now, and that I *would* be warmer than the people cleaning my car, but........
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