How Often Should I Wash My Car?
Optimal Car Wash Times
Ideally, you should make it a habit to wash your car every week. By integrating a regular car wash into your schedule, it becomes less of a hassle and more like a quick and easy maintenance issue.
It’s similar to vacuuming or mopping your floors at home. If you only vacuum every month or so, the dirt and hair has a way of building up so that the task becomes a real chore every time you tackle it. However, regular care of your floors means that you’ll end up not only spending less time on keeping them in good condition, but also enjoy a cleaner home overall. Car washes operate the exact same way.
Weekly car washes will ensure that you get rid of any corrosive or damaging materials on your car’s exterior and also provide you with a chance to perform routine maintenance. You can reapply wax or polish, top off fluids, test air pressure in the tires, check the windshield wipers, and empty your interior garbage at the same time. This is especially important in the winter, when your car is subject to additional road chemicals and needs to be operating at peak condition for safety reasons.
Additional Car Wash Options
If a weekly car wash is outside of your capabilities or budget, you may want to set up an alternate schedule. Some ideas include:
- Washing your car every time you fill up the gas tank
- Washing your car as soon as you go a certain number of miles
- Doing a “deep clean” every month and performing a self-service spray down more often
- Applying an intensive wax or sealant that allows you to go longer between washes
- Having the car professionally detailed every time you get the oil changed
By linking two car care options (the wash and the oil; the wash and the gas), you can reduce the amount of time you spend worrying about your car overall.
Regular car washes don’t have to be a hassle—with a little planning and upkeep you integrate as a habit, you can enjoy a longer lasting shine and feel good knowing your car’s exterior is in mint condition.
