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View Poll Results: how long do you still think your car looks 'good' after you wash it?
never, it's a beater
0
0%
i never wash it so the question is irrelevant
2
4.35%
less than 24 hrs, hey i'm obsessive, mkay?
12
26.09%
a week or less
15
32.61%
a month or less
6
13.04%
depends on winter vs summer
7
15.22%
depends on my mood
0
0%
it always looks good b----!
3
6.52%
at least once a year, lol
1
2.17%
Voters: 46. You may not vote on this poll

How long do you still think your car looks 'good' after you wash it?

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Old 07-12-15 | 09:38 AM
  #16  
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Wow some of you guys must spend a bundle on washing detailing and supplies not to mention the time.
Old 07-12-15 | 10:58 AM
  #17  
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Running it though the car wash often is doing more harm than good to your paint job. They usually leave fine scratches and swirls that will require some type of correction. Oh, did I mention the harsh industrial cleaners they use at those drive through washes. Take it from me as I learned the hard way on a previous vehicle I owned.

Last edited by user420; 07-12-15 at 11:08 AM.
Old 07-12-15 | 11:03 AM
  #18  
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^ Agreed, car washes are no bueno, especially on darker colored/black cars that show swirl marks in the paint. Only time I've ever taken my car through one was to get a layer of caked on salt off of it, and that was only because it was below freezing and I couldn't use my hose to do it myself.
Old 07-12-15 | 12:20 PM
  #19  
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I wash them 1-2 times a week, depending on the weather that week. When clean I will dust the Lexus (the other car is parked outside) off and QD it pretty much every night, which extends the need to wash. I'll only wash it after a day of rain, which pretty much is every day here in DC this summer LOL, although I've been pretty lucky missing the rain.
Old 07-12-15 | 12:21 PM
  #20  
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I'd rather spend 6+ hours taking my time to clean, correct, seal, and wax the paint once a year and just detail when needed. I try to avoid contact with the paint unless necessary to avoid scratching it. Washing isn't doing any harm if done correctly (2 bucket, etc) - the time you are most likely to scratch is while drying, so use a quality microfiber or blow dry it Yes I am an addict also !

I had to wash much more often living in Rockville, MD ... out here in Phoenix its just keeping the dust off the thing.... I used to wash every week now its maybe once a month.
Old 07-12-15 | 12:34 PM
  #21  
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i wash mine very very rarely because i am retired and dont drive it in the rain,however i do spray detail spray after i drive it and if i get caught in the rain i use a micro fiber rag and a bucket of warm water.
i buy detail spray on amazon by the gallon.
Amazon.com: Meguiar's D15501 Last Touch Spray Detailer - 1 Gallon: Automotive Amazon.com: Meguiar's D15501 Last Touch Spray Detailer - 1 Gallon: Automotive
Old 07-12-15 | 12:56 PM
  #22  
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My car is black--so not very long...
Old 07-12-15 | 04:22 PM
  #23  
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Usually a week but in the summer, up to a month if the air isn't too dusty or if birds haven't defecated or tree saps and critters aren't showered all over the car (it has happened). In the winter, it actually lasts longer as long as it doesn't rain OR if it's super cold so nothing melts. I've detailed the car in the winter (claybar & wax) and it stayed clean for nearly 30 days (late Jan to mid Feb). Deep blue in the winter sun and white landscape really stands out when everyone else has a grey car.
Old 07-12-15 | 04:34 PM
  #24  
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Dr. says I need a full shoulder replacement. I'm more depressed about not being able to hand wash and wax her myself than about needing the surgery.
Old 07-12-15 | 05:55 PM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by swfla
Dr. says I need a full shoulder replacement. I'm more depressed about not being able to hand wash and wax her myself than about needing the surgery.
Well, you never know. Maybe, after you get your new artificial shoulder, it has some time to heal, you have some exercise and therapy, and you get used to it, perhaps (?) you will be able to do at least some (if not all) of the things you once did to your car. I'll be praying for your successful operation.

Last edited by mmarshall; 07-12-15 at 11:17 PM.
Old 07-12-15 | 10:29 PM
  #26  
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That would be me! I try to wash my car every 2 weeks and full detail once a month. Any little touch ups with opticlean!

Originally Posted by bitkahuna
Wow some of you guys must spend a bundle on washing detailing and supplies not to mention the time.
Old 07-13-15 | 07:58 AM
  #27  
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As long as I can stay out of the rain, which is sometime tough here, I can go a month, with maybe a quick detail spray down in between just get rid of the dust.

My monthly wash is accompanied by a spray wax at the least, glaze and hand wax occasionally. I only full detail as needed, but its getting about that time.
Old 07-13-15 | 09:43 AM
  #28  
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I used to wash my Lexus' every week or 2, and now with my beater, maybe every month?
Old 07-13-15 | 11:38 AM
  #29  
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when i'm out sometimes in a typical summer florida afternoon major 'down pour', i smile and say 'yay, it's clean'.
Old 07-13-15 | 11:39 AM
  #30  
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I either wash or have my car washed weekly. I dust it off daily and wipe it down with detailer as needed. So it stays pretty clean for at least 5 days out of the week. After the 5th day I don't maintain it because I know it'll get washed soon anyway.



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