Spouse Abuse
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Joined: Apr 2008
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Spouse Abuse
My wife occaisionaly likes to help me wash or polish the Corvette. The problem is she washes/details the car like it's a high school fund raiser. I have to sneek out to the garage and go over what she's done. I appreciate the 'help' but don't have the courage to let her know her work is bunk. Does anybody else have this problem?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,593
Likes: 959
From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
My wife knows better then to try and help. She knows that I get a little carried away when I clean the vette. She shakes her head when I get the leaf blower going to dry it, but really does not understand the crawling under the car the clean the stainless exhaust.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 0
From: North Canton OH
I have this problem. I don't generally end up doing it again, but it just takes me like 10x longer than if I do it myself because I can't tell where she's washed most times and end up forgetting where I've been in the process.
I'm afraid there is really nothing I can think of that you can say that won't hurt her feelings.
I'm afraid there is really nothing I can think of that you can say that won't hurt her feelings.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 7,825
Likes: 0
From: Manassas VA
I dealt with my helpful wife head-on. I was direct, but not condescending. I let her know that the paint is very delicate, and there is a special method to cleaning, and unless she had the patience to learn it, I would appreciate her helping me do the inside and the wheels/tires while I did the outside.
She didn't believe me until I came outside with a wash bucket and a separate rinse bucket, and a separate microfiber cloth for washing and rinsing, plus separate color coded microfiber towels for separate drying stages, buffing, and shining.
At that point, she understood, and proceeded to vaccum and windex the inside.
No point avoiding the topic and "sparing her feelings," hell if she catches you re-washing the car after her hard work, you're gonna get it anyway! I would suggest even showing her where her smudges are in the correct lighting, and how you work to get them off. It doesn't HAVE to be a strain on the marriage/friendship, as long as you approach it correctly.
She didn't believe me until I came outside with a wash bucket and a separate rinse bucket, and a separate microfiber cloth for washing and rinsing, plus separate color coded microfiber towels for separate drying stages, buffing, and shining.
At that point, she understood, and proceeded to vaccum and windex the inside.
No point avoiding the topic and "sparing her feelings," hell if she catches you re-washing the car after her hard work, you're gonna get it anyway! I would suggest even showing her where her smudges are in the correct lighting, and how you work to get them off. It doesn't HAVE to be a strain on the marriage/friendship, as long as you approach it correctly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,629
Likes: 7
From: Lawrenceville PA
My wife's pretty good cleaning the interior but when it comes to washing the car
I don't think she's washed a car, any of our cars, in over 10 years. You wouldn't think it was rocket science but it just may as well be for her
I don't think she's washed a car, any of our cars, in over 10 years. You wouldn't think it was rocket science but it just may as well be for her
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 1,263
From: Central Ma
More like 25 years here, and that's fine by me.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 25,225
Likes: 449
From: Sun Coast of Florida
St. Jude Donor '03-'26
First of all..............pics of said wife (in a bikini of course)
Second tell her (after we see the pics) to stay in the kitchen were she belongs and stay the hell out of the garage!
Second tell her (after we see the pics) to stay in the kitchen were she belongs and stay the hell out of the garage!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,469
Likes: 4
I've only been married 9 years but I guess I have my wife trained better than some of you guys. The minute I head out to the garage she considers herself a widow for the next few hours. It's a perfect system. 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,786
Likes: 4
From: Redsox, Pats, Celts & Bruins !!! Redsox Nation !!!
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Tell her if she wants to help, she can do the underside. Say, "Honey your so small and skinny, you'll do such a great job".
Kill 2 birds with one stone, points with the wife and get the underside clean.
Kill 2 birds with one stone, points with the wife and get the underside clean.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
In the 37 years that I've known my wife - I have only seen her take a microfiber in her hand one time.....we were at a car show and it started to sprinkle lightly then stopped. Other than that - she has never washed a car or anything that even comes close to that in her life.
I would tell her that you appreciate the assistance, and if she is really interested in learning the proper method - you will gladly show her.
I think she'll get the hint that she isn't doing it your way, she might take you up on the offer, or she might leave it alone and leave it all to you.
My wife and I share everything when it comes to our hobby - except for detailing the car.....
I would tell her that you appreciate the assistance, and if she is really interested in learning the proper method - you will gladly show her.
I think she'll get the hint that she isn't doing it your way, she might take you up on the offer, or she might leave it alone and leave it all to you.
My wife and I share everything when it comes to our hobby - except for detailing the car.....
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
My wife is just the opposite...since we've been married (36 years) she's known how particular I am about maintaining our vehicles. She's also seen how we've usually gotten more back when we've sold or traded them due to their pristine condition.
So, she's learned to wash/dry her daily driver as I do my Z16 or Silverado. She's even used my random orbital to apply MEGUIAR'S when it needs it.
Just yesterday, she spent three hours washing her Trailblazer of the monsoon crud that had accumulated in the past three weeks. She even cleans under the hood, door jambs, interior and details the tires/wheels.
She had asked me if I wanted to help her...nope, another monsoon storm will probably mess it up again this week...
So, she's learned to wash/dry her daily driver as I do my Z16 or Silverado. She's even used my random orbital to apply MEGUIAR'S when it needs it.
Just yesterday, she spent three hours washing her Trailblazer of the monsoon crud that had accumulated in the past three weeks. She even cleans under the hood, door jambs, interior and details the tires/wheels.
She had asked me if I wanted to help her...nope, another monsoon storm will probably mess it up again this week...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 855
Likes: 40
From: Liverpool NY
Wife wash the car
Thats a riot!! not during my life time. She would add it to the cleaning ladies list of things, she would take it to a car wash
(brushless of course) but hand wash, I don't think so
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Gladstone Oregon
Same prob - but different spouse
My Husband is the one who likes to use all sorts of things like dish towels, shop towels and the same wash mit used on the work truck to clean his DD cars, so he was thinking he could do the same with my Vette - which he did while I was in the shower one day. I set him straight my way, I went out and bought a detail kit just for my car and labeled it - use for "Corvette Only" on the bucket. Then I told him...."Don't bother doing my car honey, I like doing it myself, it makes me feel good and you can watch and then you can feel good"! We don't have that problem any more.
I set him straight my way, I went out and bought a detail kit just for my car and labeled it - use for "Corvette Only" on the bucket. Then I told him...."Don't bother doing my car honey, I like doing it myself, it makes me feel good and you can watch and then you can feel good"! We don't have that problem any more.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Gladstone Oregon
But it sure does pay off!
