My wife says I'm nuts

[DavidL]

I had Monday off so I just relaxed around the house since it was raining outside and 45 degrees. Then about 5:00pm it stopped raining so I went to wash my truck, when I was done (still not raining) I went on to my Subaru. Just as I was almost done it starts to rain a little by the time I was done it was a raining moderately. Just then my wife pulls in the driveway shaking her head. Since I had all my stuff out I washed her Accord next (in the rain). Now she keeps telling me I’m obsessed. I tell her I’m not, I’m CAR CRAZY!

[sneek]

thats pretty funny

[gb387]

Yeah.... its a problem here on MOL, at least you can explain your self to your wife.... now the neighbors they will be talking about it for weeks!

[The Doctor detailer]

well I never washed a car in the rain but I did knowing that probably would sometime later. My family thinks I'm crazy too

Washing in the rain

[FromThisSoil]

My girlfriend thinks I'm nuts, too.

You're not alone.

[Michael Stoops]

My whole neighborhood thinks I'm nuts - but then again they know me pretty well, so......

I do get a little tired of the guy across the street saying things like "the primer is showing" or "you're washing the paint right off that thing - look, the water is running off grey" (he says that when I'm washing my grey car ) or "I'm glad I'm not a slave to my car"

Of course, last week he asked me what I'd charge him to wash his truck. I told him I couldn't take his money but I'd work for beer. Lots of it. And I'd have to be paid in advance. He declined.

[TKDDAD]

That's funny....I too get the "hey, I'll bring my car over when you're done" comment alot...I respond, "make sure your checkbook is in it !"...lots of people are basically lazy when it comes to car care....I dig the fact that I'm out there in 40 degree weather with my rubber gloves and boots and everyone else is inside....then when my car comes rolling out of the garage looking like a gazillion dollars, who's nuts now baby !!!!!.......sorry, I guess I am nuts but we all have our crosses to bear and frankly, it's one that I love to bear !!!

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by TKDDAD

I respond,

"make sure your checkbook is in it"

That's a good one.

When I lived in Oregon, you never knew if when you started out washing your car in the sun, that before you were through you would end up washing your car in the rain.

Sometimes I would use the rain to my advantage as after its been raining for a good long while the dirt and road grime on the car will soften making it easier to wash off. Plus you don't have to worry about the sun drying your suds on the finish.





Now out here in the California desert it's the exact opposite, it hardly ever rains and until I switched to washing our cars in the garage I was always trying wash and rinse the car faster than the sun and even warm air can dry the suds on the finish.

One morning, I had to be somewhere early and I wanted to drive a clean car and couldn't get to washing it the day before, so I was up early, and outside washing the Pilot possibly before 5:00am.

My neighbor, an officer for the California Highway Patrol, bless his heart), came outside to to as he walked to his car to unlock it I could here him laughing...

I did my best to explain and justify what I was doing but I'm pretty sure he just thinks I'm crazy. Most of the neighbors all know me as "The Meguiar's Guy" and now whenever they have an issue with their paint and they see me working on a car in either the driveway or the garage they simply pull the car into the driveway and ask me to,

"Take a look at her"

I'm absolutely positive they think I wash my cars to often.

I'm sure they grown accustomed to to watching me drive different cars out into different locations in the road in our culdesac, followed by carrying an old rickety wooden ladder out to to the car followed by having a photo shooting session with the car.

[Tom Weed]

Mike,
I have the same problem with the neighbors laughing at me, and thinking I'm nuts. I get people all the time asking me if they are next, so my standard answer is, "sure, I could use the money".

When I first started cleaning my own car once a week, I was really hearing it from not only them, but my wife as well. I think she's used to it by now and her car stays pretty clean as well.

Now, I am doing neighbors cars and people I know, but I still get looks and laughs when I am taking pictures. At first this kind of bothered me a little as I didn't want them thinking I was crazy, but now I just smile and wave back.

Tom

[SVT Lightning]

My wife used to think I was a little crazy too.....until I gave her rig the "treatment" one time. I used to just wash it regularly and wax it with the one-step cleaner wax maybe twice a year. Decided one day to really do it right. Wash, clay, #9, DC#2, and NXT. She was blown away and hasn't been the same since. Now SHE is the first one to say, "It's not supposed to rain for a couple days and my car sure is looking a bit dirty"

[LiquidBlack]

After I detail my car and it rains, I run out right after it lets up and run the water off with my chamois. I get some odd looks by people passing in their cars. I think the only time they see me is when I'm out detailing my car.

[Magic]

I've never washed my car in the rain, but I do wash it right after it stops. I try to avoid letting any water to sit on my finish, and etch in the paint.

I'm in the same boat, my wife thinks I'm nuts. But I did her car awhile back, and now she complains when it's dirty. She's admitted that she hates the amount of time I spend each week on the cars, but loves when she walks out to get in her car, and her Accord is the shiniest car in the lot!

[Dragpakmach]

my wife thought I was nuts when we met.Now she understands and wants to keep her truck clean.My neighbors used to laugh now they are customers. Im beautifying my block one car at a time.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Dragpakmach

I'm beautifying my block one car at a time.

That's cool!

[Hannibal]

I was in one of our upper-class neighborhoods the other day Finishing up a 50" Plasma television installation and when I went to my "work" truck to grab a tool, a neighbor approached me and asked me "How do you get that truck so shiny?". (I had not washed it in 2 weeks ) I told him I use the "right products and right methods" when washing and waxing. When I told him the truck is 5 years old and is my daily driver, parked outside 24/7, and is a work truck he was stunned.

I looked at his Sports car in the garage and it looked like he washed it with an SOS pad. I dont know my fancy cars very well, it was the one with a peace sign looking emblem. I told him I could make his car as shiny as mine if he wanted, I told him a price and he shrugged me off and walked away

So you see, the people who are judging are usually somewhat envious. I was kind of paranoid at first in my new neighborhood that people were going to think im "obssessed" or something (which I am I think). My neighbor was usually outside when I detailed. he never said anything. Then one day he had a bucket and some sponges and we were both washing in unison
I was like *whew* I am not the only one.

Good subject!! I think it best to not worry what other people think, and just be glad you are not on the couch eating potato chips like many people do. GOD knows we burn some calories wiping and washing often.

So keep the enrgy and enthusiasm about car detailing, it is very fun!! I finaaly had time today to wash my truck!! (and my fiance's)