Neglected Vehicles

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dionnfr

New member
Just wondering How many of you neglect their own vehicles because they are too busy. I finally decided to take a weekend off, between my regular job and my detailing, I just realized that my two vehicles were neglected. Spent today doing compete detail on both. While sitting here and ordering replacement product, I thought I would ask the question.
 
I make time to keep my car looking good. What client wants a detailer to detail their car if their own car is dirty? My car looks like it's been washed all the time. The interior is usually clean, just a quick vacuuming and it's all done.
 
Well, since I am sure there won't be many of us, I do tend to neglect my vehicle. Between work and my wife, as much as it pains me I don't spend as much time on my car as I'd like. It's just dirt though, the paint is mint.
 
its been 2 weeks since I have been able to wash my car...i normally just ONR, but tomorrow will be a PW with a super concentrated soap wash...its pretty hammered with dirt and water spotting from the stupid sprinklers on the street (hard water to boot)



then Ill ONR it and wax it again next week (once a month waxing is what I do - OCW - love it!!!)



reasons for not washing it at all....



1-busy day life, work at a restaurant at night

2-surf has been really good the past week, so I have been in the water instead of washing my car

3-sometimes I am just tooooooo tired to move after a day of detailing then restaurant work that I just want to have a day to relax!!!
 
I wish I could say I keep it clean and lovely looking all the time, but there's just no time between school and business. Sometimes after a detail, I am far too exhausted to even get out of bed, lol.
 
its been better than 3 weeks for me and my car. I just finished out a mustang yesterday for my brother in law....Mine is up today and the wifeys car is due today.....
 
Once a month, maybe a wash.



Same reason a mechanic's car always has a part that needs to be fixed, or a body shop tech's vehicle needs a paint job, and the only new car a salesman drives home is a demo.



Either I do it all day and it's the last thing I want to take on after work is over, or I'm so meticulous that if I cleaned it every time it was dirty I'd never get a break. The key for me is to avoid the mistakes that clients make- french fries or open drink containers and not doing the recommended periodic wash/wax.
 
When I was detailing professionally, I often neglected my own vehicle as well. It was silver so it tended to hide a lot, but I definitely let it slip. It would be embarrassing when a customer would ask, "Is that your car?". Then you start with the excuses. I was always so focused on booking someone else, that when I had free time to do my own car, I never wanted to.



My best recommendation looking back on things, is once or twice a year properly prep your car. From there on out I'd schedule your own car for a quick maintenance every 2 weeks or so. As long as you consistently maintain your vehicle properly, it shouldn't take much more than 1.5 hrs for a quick wash & wax, dress tires, and a quick vacuum and wipe down of your interior. It only becomes time consuming when we let it slip, and that's when you don't want to do it the most because you know that it's more work. Schedule yourself like a customer and try to stick to it. You may gain a customer by having your car looking clean all the time. I've had people talk to me at the gas station, in parking lots, rest stops, etc. and some turned into customers. At the same time, you don't know if you're giving a bad impression to your current customers if you neglect your own vehicle. If you do neglect your own car, I hope you have an amazing rep to back it up.



George
 
One thing is for certain- I feel bad for any of us who drive a black/dk blue work vehicle. :buffing:



My detail rig is pearl white & pewter, I bought it that way for a reason. :2thumbs:
 
MartinD said:
The last vehicle I want to clean is my own.



Who do I charge? :nixweiss
Click to expand...



Me. :har:



Yes cars get dirty, people have lives. Go ahead look at my dirty car, it's even funnier at Meets.
 
I'm so mad at myself right now.....I made time to wash my car yesterday after work and what happened it rained, then It stopped and I didn't go out there to wash and seal it...pisses me off, I'm lazy when it comes to my car.....



I had the time and still didn't do it...so TODAY IS THE DAY!
 
I used to wash my car almost weekly, or every 2 weeks atleast. However I have a jet black bmw that is rediculously hard to keep swirl free with its buttery soft clear. It aggrivated me so much that I stopped being so anal about my car. I end up polishing it every 6-8 months to get it looking good again, but I can't wait till I get a new car, it will be white or silver so it will stay looking good, without driving me insane.
 
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