How Often Should You Wash Your Car? Ways to Do It and More

For most car owners, their vehicles are a symbol of pride and hard work. It’s the culmination of years of dedication to work, so they want it to look spiffy. It’s why 66% of Americans wash their cars 12 to 13 times a year.

However, this begs the question: How often should you really wash your car? And what are the factors that could affect the frequency?

How Often Should You Wash Your Car?

How often you wash your car depends on several factors, but it’s best to hose your ride down at least twice a month to avoid built-up dust and mud. 

Factors That Affect Car Washing Frequency

How often you use your ride, where you drive it, the elements, and what’s making it dirty would dictate how often you need to wash it.

Vehicle Usage

If you’re the adventurous type and tend to drive off-road, you might have to clean your vehicle more frequently. 

Dirt and mud build up on the tires faster when you drive through rough terrain. It usually won’t affect your ride’s performance, but it could ruin its overall look. Not to mention, the mud could leave a mess on your driveway or the streets.

Geographical Location

Depending on where you live, you may have to wash your vehicle more than twice a month. Let’s say you live near a beach. Sand could get all over your ride, from its body when you drive by the shore to its cabin when you enter your vehicle with sandy shoes.

In this case, you need to wash your ride often because the sand could clog the air filter and reduce airflow to the engine, increasing the risk of overheating.

Climate and the Elements

Rain is one of the biggest culprits behind dirty cars. Raindrops collect particles, such as dust, pollen, pollutants, and smoke. When they hit cars and dry up, they leave specks of dirt dotted on the surface.

Type of Contaminants

You need to wash your vehicle if it comes in contact with contaminants like sand, tree sap, and road salt because they could cause issues down the line. 

Road salt, in particular, could remove the paint and expose the undercarriage, resulting in rust. This alone warrants cleaning your car as soon as possible.

How to Wash Your Car

There are two ways you could wash your car. One is by hand washing it. The other is by going to a car wash and having professionals handle the task.

Hand Washing

Hand washing is the traditional way of cleaning cars. Here’s how it usually goes:

• Step 1: Use a hose to spray down the vehicle and get rid of as much dirt as possible.
• Step 2: Use a soap to wipe down the tougher stains and contaminants, working your way from the top.
• Step 3: Rinse off the soap to prevent marks.
• Step 4: Wipe the vehicle using a microfiber cloth or towel to dry it.
  Step 5: Clean the doors and the wheels using a damp cloth. 
• Step 6: Apply wax and polish to add an extra layer of protection.

If you don’t have the necessary soap or cleaning agent, a good substitute is baking soda. Mix one cup of baking soda with one gallon of water to make the solution. Note that this cleaning agent works best if used on the exterior of your vehicle.

Go to a Car Wash

Hand-washing your car takes time and energy, and not many owners have the luxury of having both. Going to a car wash is a great alternative, as they do a phenomenal job washing and removing even the toughest of stains.

One downside of going to one is the cost. While car wash services are relatively cheap, it’s still more expensive than cleaning your vehicle for free.

If you want to wash your car but don’t have cleaning tools and solutions on hand, you can go to a self-service car wash. These smart tips will help you maximize it. 

Signs That You Need to Wash Your Car

For some, following the bi-weekly schedule has become a habit that they ignore some signs that their cars need washing. Here are some tells that your ride needs washing as soon as possible:

Foul Odor

If you can trace your vehicle’s location by its odor instead of by sight, then it may be a sign to bring out the hose and roll up your sleeves. This also applies if the odor comes from the cabin, especially if you often eat or smoke while driving.

In this case, going to a car wash may be the best option because they also offer interior washing. It may be pricey, but a professionally washed car could lead to a more comfortable driving experience.

Visible Dirt

Spotting dirt on your vehicle while you’re some distance away from it is a sign that it needs washing. This is especially true if they’ve built up and are causing visibility issues with the windshield and side mirror.

However, be wary of overwashing your vehicle as it may lead to scratches, paint damage, and even dull your vehicle’s overall shine.

Rust and Corrosion

Not only does rust impact appearance, but it could also damage the metallic parts of your vehicle. Luckily, cleaning helps prevent corrosion, and there are products, such as the WD-40 spray, that outright remove them.

Wash your car before using the spray. Use sandpaper to scrape off the rust and leave it to dry, then spray the WD-40 on the affected parts.

Get Car Wash Tools That You Can Rely On

If you want your car to stay clean for extended periods, you must use the right tools. You need a car wash soap formulated for use on vehicles, a car wash brush that won’t scratch the paint job, and a drying towel to thoroughly dry the exterior. You can get these car wash tools from CarParts.com delivered to your home.

CarParts.com offers car wash soaps, car wash brushes, drying towels and more. We exclusively source our products from trusted companies, ensuring your new car wash tools work as advertised. After completing your order, you won’t have to wait long for it to arrive. If you live in the continental US and submit your order before noon ET, you can expect your new car wash soap, car wash brush, and drying towel to arrive in as fast as two business days.

Stock up on high-quality car wash tools here at CarParts.com. Check out our selection of car wash soaps, car wash brushes, and drying towels and order today!