It’s summertime and the weather is hot, which means it’s the perfect time to wash your car. But how often should you wash your vehicle? Is there such a thing as washing your car too much? We’ll explore the answer to these questions and more in this blog post. Read on to learn everything you need to know about washing your car.
Washing your car might seem like a no-brainer. But believe it or not, there is such a thing as washing your car too much. Washing your car too often can damage the paint and clear coat. It can also lead to rusting and fading. So how often should you wash your car?
How I Often Should I Wash My Car
The frequency at which you wash your car should be determined by how often you drive it and how you store it. For example a cra you drive a once a week that is kept in a garage, can go quite awhile without needing a auto bath.
For your daily driver thats stored outside, ideally, you should wash your car every 4 to 5 weeks. This will help to remove dirt, dust, and other debris that can build up on your vehicle. If you live in a particularly dusty or dirty area, you may need to wash your car more frequently. The same goes for if you drive on unpaved roads often.
In my community, there was construction going on for a major road and it was causing all of the neighborhood vehicles to get extremely dusty on windy days. During that time I stepped up my in-between detailing by gently wiping the vehicle down with a waterless car wash, but not a full car wash using heavy water and soap.
The Risks of Overwashing Your Vehicle
If you wash your car too often, you run the risk of damaging the paint and clear coat. Washing your vehicle with harsh chemicals can also lead to fading and other issues.
As you wash your vehicle you are rubbing down the protectant on top of the paint. So for example, if you have wax on your vehicle, the more you wash it, the thinner the layer of wax gets.
If you wash your car by hand, which you should be doing if you care about it, be sure to use gentle soap and avoid scrubbing too hard. You should also wash your car in the shade to avoid any damage from the sun.
Some people wonder if it is ok to wash a Tesla out of concern that is electric. There is abolutley no risk to washing it or detailing it. Tesla and other elctric vehicle makers, made the exterior of the vehicles like any other wutomobile; designed to get wet and be washed.
Keeping the Car Clean Between Washings
If you’re looking for ways to keep your car clean between washings, there are a few things you can do.
First, try to park in a garage or covered area whenever possible. This will help to protect your car from the elements. You can also invest in a good quality car cover. This is even more important if you have an exotic vehicle that costs more then 100K.
Another option is to use a waterless car wash to gently wipe down your car between washings. Personally I use Adams Waterless Carwash.
Lastly invest in a high-quality protectant like wax or a ceramic coating. These create a layer of protection for the paint and will make it easier to get debris off your vehicle. Products like ceramic coating create a hydroponic layer over your paint and even water just rolls off of it.
When it comes to washing your car, less is more.
Is It Ok to Use an Automatic Car Wash?
If you love your vehicle you should never take it to an automated car wash. hand washing should be your only option. There are several risks to automated car washes such as:
- They can damage your paint from using harsh chemicals, hard water, and abrasive brushes
- They can scratch your car. Debris and dirt sticks on the brushes in an automated car wash from all the previous vehicles that passed through. This rubs against your paint and can easily scratch it.
- They can remove wax or other protectants. The pressure at which an automated car wash uses the hose and the brushes wear your paint protectant down faster than it would from a wash by hand.
- Broken parts. Automatic car washes are notorious for damaging antennas, roof racks, spoilers, side view mirrors, and other car parts.
Car Washing Benefits
If you wash your vehicle at the appropriate intervals and keep up with minor exterior detailing between washes there are many benefits.
- Your paint will thank you for staying glossy and looking new.
- You will not get as many paint swirls in your clear coat which will require paint correction later.
- Helps to remove any harmful chemicals or debris that could potentially damage your paint or clear coat like acid from rain, tree sap, bird droppings, and salt from the road.
- Helps prevent rusting by keeping the metal parts of your car clean and free of dirt and grime.
- If you are also polishing your headlights when you wash it, you can increase your field and depth of vision on the road at night.
- Overall you will help maintain the value of your vehicle.
How Often Should I Wash My Car – Bottom Line
Washing your car is important to maintain the value of your vehicle, but you don’t want to wash it too often. Be sure to wash by hand using gentle soap and avoid scrubbing too hard. You can also use a waterless car wash to gently wipe down your car between washings. Invest in a good quality protectant like wax or a ceramic coating to help keep your car clean between washings. Automated car washes are not recommended as they can damage your paint, scratch your car, and remove wax or other protectants.