Q: How often should I wash my car?
A: Based on your preference, cleaning the car is either a chore or a pleasure, but most people agree that they love to see their vehicle shiny and clean.
Car detailing experts would recommend that your car is cleaned weekly, but your busy schedule is unlikely to be able to cope with that. Car owners clean their cars at very different intervals. Some will clean the car at regular intervals, whereas others will simply do the job when the car is so dirty they can no longer see the paint work. So, what is the ideal frequency for cleaning the family car? Our team at DCH Toyota of Oxnard believes the answer to that question will vary according to a variety of different factors, such as location, mileage, climate and your purpose for driving.
Location
Where you live has a big impact how often you should wash your car. If it is parked on a busy road, with lots of traffic, then it may pick up a load of dirt from the road. Likewise, if you live in a coastal region, then your car may well regularly be covered in salt spray and debris. If your car is parked under trees then it may become very dirty, very quickly with sap from the trees or bird droppings. If this is the case, then try to wash your car weekly. If you live in a very clean, quiet location, then a monthly clean is probably sufficient.
Mileage
How frequently you drive your car also has affects your car’s spotlessness. As a general principle, the more miles that you drive, the more frequently you will need to clean the car. More highway miles mean more dirt and debris on the paint work. Where you drive your car also has an impact on its otherwise pristine exterior. If you drive through a rural area then you are far more likely to get bugs on the windshield and front grille. In these conditions, you may want to wash your car every other week.
Climate
The climate and air temperature are also important considerations. In very cold climates, snow and grit from the roads can quickly erode and damage your paint work. Conversely, in very hot climates, the problem of erosion can be accelerated, as chemicals in contaminants become more active in hot temperatures. Tree sap, dead bugs and bird droppings can all very quickly cause permanent damage if left on a hot car for an extended period of time. During hot or very cold weather, washing the car weekly is highly recommended.
Purpose
The reason(s) for using your car will also have an effect on the frequency with which you wash it. If your car is used to visit clients or even to drive them around, then it needs to be kept spotlessly clean. If your car is a company vehicle and displays graphics advertising the business, then it too needs to be cleaned almost daily to ensure a professional image. If, perhaps, you use your car for off-road driving in your own time, then you may not be as inclined to clean it so frequently.
