The Season of Discontent is upon us...

**vaca22** · 10-26-2021, 08:02 AM

As I look back over the year, my family would tell you I've been basically nuts about maintaining the car.

"How much cleaner can a car get?"

"You're going to wash the paint off!"

"Is all of that really necessary?"

They don't know that if you drop 10+ hours getting it looking right, you want to maintain that look.

That being said, I'm looking out the window and staring at what will basically amount to a solid week of rain. But the kicker is that it's still relatively warm here in southern New England. Temps are in the mid to high 50's with this rain, and Monday is scheduled to have a high of 64. That's really solid for Nov 1st...which means I'll probably be out there washing things off in some fashion.

But this is the start of the Season of Discontent for many of us, when it becomes too cold and impractical to keep that summer look all fresh and clean, especially if you park outside. I think I had the car looking top-notch from the beginning of May (possibly late April) to now it's looking like November. That's many months of obsessing over details and cleaning...and I love it. It's crazy, but the car virtually never looked dirty for that entire time.

Generally speaking the offseason is right around the corner for me. If the weather cooperates I'll still do the occasional wash, but for the most part I'm looking at ignoring the car from Thanksgiving to the 2022 Masters. I'll run it through a touchless here and there, maybe a rinseless or two as well, and that'll be it. I'll wonder what grime is accumulating and what my plan of attack will be in the spring. I'll fondly remember remember warm mornings with leaves rustling in the wind, the scent of the finest detailing products lightly being carried by a gentle breeze.

Alas.

What do you all do during your "offseason"?

**CleanIT** · 10-26-2021, 08:10 AM

Indeed. I'm in the same boat. My neighbor is a psychologist. I can only imagine the thoughts that go through his mind about my excessive car detailing episodes. Like you, I generally wash my cars once a week in the warmer months. I let things go much longer in winter. I don't seem to mind my cars get dirty in the winter as much as I do the summer. I guess I've internally processed that it's a losing battle in the winter to try and keep up with it. With winters being more mild more frequently, I can usually bang out a quick wash at one of the DIY car wash bays.

**vettemn86** · 10-26-2021, 08:23 AM

Ive been dreading this season coming as well. Not only do I enjoy detailing and maintaining the cars, buts also like a therapy for me as well. I cant explain the relaxation there is in that first thing in the morning, looking at the 7 or 8 soaps on the shelf and wondering "what do I want the driveway to smell like this morning"

**PA DETAILER** · 10-26-2021, 08:42 AM

SAME. I wash/detail the truck every weekend during the nice weather. But it's changing. Hate to lose the hobby over the winter. Drives me nuts. But it is what it is. During the decent days over winter, i give it a driveway wash. Rain all week here too...

For me it's therapy after a long week at work. So in the winter i lose my weekly sessions. LOL

During the winter, i will wait for some really good sale, then place one big order. This way i am ready to go come spring. No scrambling for products.

**Uncbrs** · 10-26-2021, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by vaca22

As I look back over the year, my family would tell you I've been basically nuts about maintaining the car.

"How much cleaner can a car get?"

"You're going to wash the paint off!"

"Is all of that really necessary?"

They don't know that if you drop 10+ hours getting it looking right, you want to maintain that look.

That being said, I'm looking out the window and staring at what will basically amount to a solid week of rain. But the kicker is that it's still relatively warm here in southern New England. Temps are in the mid to high 50's with this rain, and Monday is scheduled to have a high of 64. That's really solid for Nov 1st...which means I'll probably be out there washing things off in some fashion.

But this is the start of the Season of Discontent for many of us, when it becomes too cold and impractical to keep that summer look all fresh and clean, especially if you park outside. I think I had the car looking top-notch from the beginning of May (possibly late April) to now it's looking like November. That's many months of obsessing over details and cleaning...and I love it. It's crazy, but the car virtually never looked dirty for that entire time.

Generally speaking the offseason is right around the corner for me. If the weather cooperates I'll still do the occasional wash, but for the most part I'm looking at ignoring the car from Thanksgiving to the 2022 Masters. I'll run it through a touchless here and there, maybe a rinseless or two as well, and that'll be it. I'll wonder what grime is accumulating and what my plan of attack will be in the spring. I'll fondly remember remember warm mornings with leaves rustling in the wind, the scent of the finest detailing products lightly being carried by a gentle breeze.

Alas.

What do you all do during your "offseason"?

In Colorado, this is the season of great washing days! We can be 70 and sunny for Christmas or under a foot of snow. No matter what, the next nice day of sunshine is almost always in the forecast. If I stay motivated enough, I can probably get more washing days than the summer when it was pretty much 90+ by 10am this year.

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**mc2hill** · 10-26-2021, 09:19 AM

The flip side is it is finally CAR SHOW season in Florida! It is way too hot from May thru September to enjoy a full day car show, but we have plans to take the 1912 race car to a concours in the Tampa area in December. Plus lots of other shows to enjoy (hopefully Sizzle will share pics of the big show in Naples in February).

**PouncingPanzer** · 10-26-2021, 09:21 AM

I personally find peace and solace when detailing my own vehicle or the occasional friend/family members car. It's very relaxing to me. Never do I want to make detailing feel like work. Which is why I very rarely do "side work". My "standard" maintenance wash is a minimum 1.5 hours. Factor in the quarterly "deep clean"(those 10+ hour days) and by the end of summer you can easily have a couple full work weeks spent on just trying to keep the car as clean as possible. Unfortunately, in apartment settings, it's constantly a hassle for me as I must travel at least 20 minutes one way to a suitable wash facility(brother in laws truck shop). With winter here, I must turn down the OCD a little bit or risk losing my mind. Just grateful I got out of black and white cars, this "pure grey" GLI is much much more forgiving in regards to how much dirt it shows. Which is welcome in the winter when getting a wash in once a month is about the most I can expect and ask for.

Got two coats of Jescar Ultra Lock+ on the car after the last wash, that should last well into winter. I hope.

**vaca22** · 10-26-2021, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by Uncbrs

In Colorado, this is the season of great washing days! We can be 70 and sunny for Christmas or under a foot of snow. No matter what, the next nice day of sunshine is almost always in the forecast. If I stay motivated enough, I can probably get more washing days than the summer when it was pretty much 90+ by 10am this year.

That's interesting!

One thing I'll never get is how people in Florida deal with cleaning. Doesn't it rain like almost EVERY DAY for at least a little in the summer? It would be impossible for me to keep up with that.

**Uncbrs** · 10-26-2021, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by vaca22

That's interesting!

One thing I'll never get is how people in Florida deal with cleaning. Doesn't it rain like almost EVERY DAY for at least a little in the summer? It would be impossible for me to keep up with that.

Yeah, I think the summer is rough down there between the rain and humidity. I hate humidity!

I'm trying to remember the last time it rained here...

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**Bruno Soares** · 10-26-2021, 09:35 AM

Since I now work from home due to covid changes, bad weather just means I use my car less. When I need to go out I use my wife's car

Last year all winter I basically drove the car a few miles per week and kept it hooked up to the battery tender the rest of the time. Never took it out of the garage if the roads were dirty or the day wasn't sunny.

In the past 18 months, my car got rained on 3 times and that's because I really had no way around it. It never was a garage queen but now you might as well call it that. I even adjusted my insurance to driving 4K miles per year which lowered my premium, I should have done that sooner. You may say "but then you're not enjoying the car" and I think that's fine, I'd rather not enjoy it then see it get dirty which means I have to find time ASAP to clean it again. I washed it late last week, and the weather has been crappy since. So it's been in the garage since, this week I think Thursday might be the only clear day to drive it