Does pollen need to be washed off quickly? (also, pollen+wax=?)

[Soupcan325i]

In the last week, my car has collected a ton of pollen from the spring blooms in Atlanta even though the car is parked in a parking deck. Orient blue has become orient ochre. Two questions:

1) I'm going away on a trip this weekend (the car will be staying here by itself), do I need to wash the pollen off before I go? Is there any harm to leaving it for when I return (other than the potential of losers writing things in the dust like "wash me" which scratch the clearcoat)? I wouldn't be so picky but I noticed how hard water stains started to scuff the clearcoat...not sure if pollen would get embedded the same way?

2) A week ago, before the monstrous pollen storm, I washed and waxed the car with McGuires gold class. Interestingly, the areas of the car that I waxed seem to have collected more pollen than the unwaxed areas - for example, I waxed the roof and to avoid staining the roof trim, I don't go 100% to the edge. I can now clearly see where I waxed based on the pollen buildup. Does wax attract pollen or make it more visible somehow?

[Elwood]

In the last week, my car has collected a ton of pollen from the spring blooms in Atlanta even though the car is parked in a parking deck. Orient blue has become orient ochre. Two questions:

1) I'm going away on a trip this weekend (the car will be staying here by itself), do I need to wash the pollen off before I go? Is there any harm to leaving it for when I return (other than the potential of losers writing things in the dust like "wash me" which scratch the clearcoat)? I wouldn't be so picky but I noticed how hard water stains started to scuff the clearcoat...not sure if pollen would get embedded the same way?

2) A week ago, before the monstrous pollen storm, I washed and waxed the car with McGuires gold class. Interestingly, the areas of the car that I waxed seem to have collected more pollen than the unwaxed areas - for example, I waxed the roof and to avoid staining the roof trim, I don't go 100% to the edge. I can now clearly see where I waxed based on the pollen buildup. Does wax attract pollen or make it more visible somehow?
I'd guess the wax changes the static charge of the surface and may be attracting more? just a WAG. Pollen shouldn't have any more negative effect then dirt/dust. It just might be easier to do now instead of later.

I just washed and waxed this weekend. Where I work is always dusty pollen/dust/etc. It was completly covered the next day. I simly moistened a MF cloth with QD spray and easily wiped it clean. It still has that sparkling just wax finish :D

[///MDex]

If you just waxed it, a wash off of just pollen and dust sholdn't take more than 30 min. I'd do it. More importantly, why would you not?

I washed my MC for the first time last weekend after my Klasse application 2 weeks ago, and damn if I even needed to use soap and a mitten. Everything rinsed completetly off with the water.

Qucik wash, or a quick detail :thumbup:

PS: and get a cover :)

[RKT BMR]

I vaguely recall reading somewhere that pollen grains, when dissolved in water, create a mildly acidic PH. If true, this would be bad for your clearcoat, should light rain or fog turn the pollen dust coat on the car into little blobs of pollen paté.

Of course, this is based on a vague memory of something I read somewhere, so take it for what it's worth.

Me? I wouldn't take the chance. I'd get an el-cheapo car cover from Pepboys or equivalent (like, $25), do a quick wash to get the pollen off, then cover the car while gone.

Of course, there's the issue of what sort of reaction to worry about on the paint if el-cheapo car cover gets rained on, but I digress...