Richmond's pollen peaks late March through May, and it's acidic — left on paint for weeks, it etches into clear coat permanently. Two prep moves: (1) get a wax or Jet Seal refresh in early March BEFORE peak pollen, so the surface sheds rather than absorbs. (2) Rinse the car weekly during peak weeks even without a full wash; a 10-minute hose-off removes most pollen before it bonds.
For Jet Seal-protected cars, the topper-spray after a rinse extends hydrophobic beading and helps shed the next pollen wave. For waxed cars, the wax does most of the work.
Post-pollen (mid-May), schedule a Silver or Gold detail to reset the paint. Pollen residue tends to live in trim seams and the cowl below the windshield where rinsing alone doesn't reach.
