How Often Should I Wash My Car? Breaking It Down by Season
If you’re like many Americans, your car is a big investment. You want it to last. Whether you purchased a new vehicle, leased a car, or bought a used one, you’re investing time and money. Knowing how often you should wash your car will keep it looking great far into the future.
Maintaining your car well requires consistency. You keep up with oil changes, regular checkups, and tire rotations. In the midst of all this, it may slip your mind to regularly wash, wax, and detail your vehicle. Don’t let it!
Preserving the exterior of your car is important to maintaining the vehicle, too. Here are some guidelines to follow all year long.
How Often Should I Wash My Car in the Winter?
A good rule of thumb is to wash your car every two weeks. Consider where you live and use your vehicle when the weather gets cold. Are your roads regularly salted during the winter? If so, you may want to wash off that salt every week or two.
If you live in an area where it doesn’t snow often and the roads aren’t covered in salt, you may go a bit longer. Waiting three weeks to wash your car, even in a moderate climate, is about the longest you should wait.
How Often Should I Wash My Car in the Summer?
In most areas, that same rule of thumb applies: Aim to wash your car every other week. Again, consider where you live. When the summer season gives you a break from harsh, wintery conditions, you may want to take some time to relax by not washing your vehicle quite as often.
However, if you live in an area with a lot of summer rain or intense sun exposure, it’s smart to keep up with those bi-weekly washes. Your car won’t depreciate as much, and you’ll feel better driving around in a clean, well-maintained automobile.
How Often Should I Detail My Car?
The typical vehicle benefits from detailing at least twice a year. If you spend a lot of time behind the wheel, consider how much wear and tear goes with that. If you wash and wax your car regularly, consider detailing it every 2–3 months.
Is It Wrong to Wash My Car Every Day?
No, gentle car washing every day by itself won’t hurt your vehicle. However, it does increase the odds of accidentally scratching the paint, wearing off the shine, or causing another issue with daily washes.
Is a daily wash necessary?
If you live in an area with a lot of pollen, pollution, or other debris that settles on your car, you might feel better with a daily rinse. Keep in mind if you wax your car, you may have to reapply that wax every time you wash it off. It might be more practical to wait a week or so.
Partner with Take 5
No matter how often you wash, wax, and detail your car, don’t do it alone. Check out Take 5’s car washes and benefit from the Take 5 Unlimited™ car wash pass—then you can wash your car as often as you want for one flat monthly rate. Our car wash customers also get access to the free Pro5™ Detail Center powered by Armor All Professional®.
