Holidays & Vacations - Car Washing Terms

[Mike Phillips]

Holidays & Vacations - Car Washing Terms



Note the area missed when this car was washed, that's a Holiday





Holidays & Vacations

Above is a picture I took of a car at a stop light where you could easily tell where the owner missed a section when they washed their car.

Back when I was in college one of my friends had a mobile car wash business and he used the terms, Holiday, and Vacation, to describe the area you missed when you wash a car and by accident that is, when you missed a section of paint.

Usually the missed section doesn't show up when the car is wet, but stands out like a Sore Thumb after the car dries.

If I or one of the other guys, or even my friend Dave the business owner missed a small spot, someone would say,

"Hey... are you on a Holiday or something?


If you miss a large section, they'll say...

"Hey... are you on a Vacation or something?


It's usually said in jest, but if you're training a new employee then it's also a gentle way to point out they need to focus on the task at hand because they're missing spots and there isn't time to go back and wash a car a second time as like most jobs in the general category of the car care industry, it's all about speed and production.



Maybe I'm the only person that's heard this?

[jamores23]

i havent but thats funny lol. hows everything going mike?

[Finemess]

Yes, my mom use to use the term when painting. You missed a spot, its a vacation.

[Mike Phillips]

i haven't but thats funny LOL. hows everything going mike?

Well since you asked... everything is great!

In fact, "work" is like being on a Holiday or Vacation!

• Our TV show debuts tomorrow!
• Our how-to features on My Classic Car with Dennis Gage start tomorrow!
• Monday we start a new TV project!
• Working with Matt Steele and Bruno Massel is an opportunity of a life time and a lot of fun...
• Working with Operation Comfort is always a rewarding experience...
• Working with Bryan Fuller and Kevin Bird is yet another opportunity of a lifetime!
• Working with Sam Memmolo and Dave Bowman is yet another opportunity of a lifetime!
• Working with Dennis Gage is... well an opportunity of a lifetime!
• Our next 101 and 102 Detailing Classes are coming up in May and I really love teaching these classes and making new friends over the course of the weekend.
• DetailFest was a HUGE success!
• Working at DetailFest with Joe Fernandez and Renny Doyle is always a pleasure.
• Meeting so many forum members at DetailFest and having a chance to put a face to an Avatar and a Forum Nickname is a favorite thing of mine to do.
• We have more new products in the house to work with...
• My son is turning out to be a pretty good guitar player and singer...
• Everyone's healthy...

Really couldn't ask for anything more...

[jamores23]

thats always a good thing mike. god bless you, your son, and your family. im looking forward to the tv show

[rcomito]

My Dad was a painter (houses not pictures) and he used the
term holiday for a missed spot.

Rick

[BobbyG]

I've used those terms for years but the curse I have is I'm always scrutinizing everyone else's car. Whether it's sitting in traffic or walking across a parking lot I'm always looking.

• Poor or incomplete wash jobs
• Swirls
• Holograms
• Wax on trim
• Dirty wheels and tires
• Gross interiors

..is there any hope for me?

[Crazy Amos]

Anyone else ever hear these terms used like this?

No, but I like 'em.

[Mike Phillips]

No, but I like 'em.

Ha ha...

As long as you're not the guy leaving them!

[Mike Phillips]

Shared here,

Avoid water spots - The fast and simple way I dry my cars by Mike Phillips