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Anyone else mad?

SpuffingtonMe

SpuffingtonMe

Lifetime VIP Member
Messages
75
Location
Saffron Walden, Essex
Vehicle
Grand California 600
My family and neighbours think I’m mad but I can’t stand setting off on a road trip in a dirty van!

Off Friday for a long weekend solo trip up
North (not sure where yet), but need to start in sparkly van. Having said that, both vehicles got a good clean this morning and the Disco is already covered in mud within a few miles of leaving the house. I’m sure once I’ve done the top bit of the M11, the van will be disgusting before it even before it gets to the A1 and beyond!

Anyone else similarly OCD?IMG_9330.jpegIMG_9329.jpeg
 
Yes, me too, I just have to wash & polish the van at least once a year whether it needs it or not.

Current van has been spoilt though Ive cleaned it twice & only had it 11 months.
 
My family and neighbours think I’m mad but I can’t stand setting off on a road trip in a dirty van!

Off Friday for a long weekend solo trip up
North (not sure where yet), but need to start in sparkly van. Having said that, both vehicles got a good clean this morning and the Disco is already covered in mud within a few miles of leaving the house. I’m sure once I’ve done the top bit of the M11, the van will be disgusting before it even before it gets to the A1 and beyond!

Anyone else similarly OCD?View attachment 117042View attachment 117043
I always set out with a clean vehicle, any vehicle including my GC 600 which is not easy to clean at my advanced age !
My family and neighbours think I’m mad but I can’t stand setting off on a road trip in a dirty van!

Off Friday for a long weekend solo trip up
North (not sure where yet), but need to start in sparkly van. Having said that, both vehicles got a good clean this morning and the Disco is already covered in mud within a few miles of leaving the house. I’m sure once I’ve done the top bit of the M11, the van will be disgusting before it even before it gets to the A1 and beyond!

Anyone else similarly OCD?View attachment 117042View attachment 117043
I always set off on any journey in a clean vehicle and that is quite hard in a GC 600 especially at my advanced age !

DSC_0131.JPG
 
For me, it’s inside that has to be neat and tidy and clean. Not so bothered about the exterior and maybe a Spring- Autumn monthly wash does the job and a ‘ready for winter ‘wash n polish’.
Always wash before service or MOT as want to be clear on any possible wee ‘dinks’ that might occur whilst in the garage. Let’s face it they’re not the owners !
 
"both vehicles got a good clean this morning".

That is amazing. It takes me all morning to thoroughly wash and dry our Beach. Mind you, I don't wash it every week or even month. It gets a thorough clean roughly every three to four months or so whether it needs it or not. If it gets very mucky in between then I'll take it down the jet wash to knock the worst off. I never go near it with the brush and always remove bird lime asap. I work on the principal that every time you clean a vehicle you will cause a certain amount of micro damage. So far this policy seems to have paid off as when I do clean it the paint comes up as good as new. It's now four years old and due a clay and polish.

I also like a clean van if going on a long trip.
 
"both vehicles got a good clean this morning".

That is amazing. It takes me all morning to thoroughly wash and dry our Beach. Mind you, I don't wash it every week or even month. It gets a thorough clean roughly every three to four months or so whether it needs it or not. If it gets very mucky in between then I'll take it down the jet wash to knock the worst off. I never go near it with the brush and always remove bird lime asap. I work on the principal that every time you clean a vehicle you will cause a certain amount of micro damage. So far this policy seems to have paid off as when I do clean it the paint comes up as good as new. It's now four years old and due a clay and polish.

I also like a clean van if going on a long trip.
Agree with this to an extent but it very much depends upon how you wash. I tend to be particularly anally retentive about my pre-wash regime. I don't go anywhere near a vehicle until it's been as decontaminated as possible. As an example, yesterday both vehicles got:

- Sprayed with Citrus Power wax-safe degreaser on the paintwork and left to dwell;
- Arches sprayed with a All Purpose Cleaner to loosen the grit & road salt;
- Jetwash rinse;
- Snowfoam left to dwell;
- Jetwash rinse;
- Wheels sprayed with Reactive (wheel cleaner & iron particle remover) before being jetwashed & cleaned by hand with a shampoo;
- Vehicle body cleaned with shampoo using the two-bucket method (i.e. one with shampoo and one for rinsing the mitt);
- Jetwash rinse;
- Application of a Hydrophobic treatment on all surfaces;
- Jetwash rinse;
- Application of Detailing Fluid and dried with a detailing towel.

I tend to wash the vehicles every month and then do a major detail once or twice a year where they get clayed, polished, waxed and sealed. I find with that sort of routine, the bodywork tends to shrug off a lot of contamination which in turn helps to wash it and minimise swirl marks or other damage.

It took me 3.5hrs in total to do both. However, when I do the full detail, it can be 12hrs per vehicle.
 
I like thinking how nice our van might be. But it only gets cleaned after a very long holiday trip , so twice or thrice a year.
 
The neighbours comment if I leave the van dirty.....
and they all covet the Cali!
 
Hi I must admit van needs to be clean inside and out before we go away....and on a trip!!!
Power washed van at South Uist garage while on an island hopping tour in September.
Van just looks better clean.
 
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