How Often Should You Wash Your Car?

Owning a car means you can get to work, school, local shops, and wherever else you want to go without catching a ride with someone else or waiting for public transportation. There's a lot of freedom that comes from owning your own car, but there are also responsibilities.  You have to keep your car fueled and maintained, and you need to keep it clean. While there are fairly clear guidelines telling you how often you need to change the oil in your car or rotate your tires, you may not necessarily know how often you should wash your car.  

There are different variables that determine whether you need to wash your car frequently or less frequently. Find out more about how often you should wash your car, and get some valuable tips about car washing below!  

Washing Your Car: How Often Do You Have to Do It? 

While the answer to this question partly depends on personal preference, the type of vehicle, the use of the vehicle, and the area where you live, there are reasons why some cars need more washing than others.  

Follow Industry Guidelines 

If you're unsure about when you should do anything, you turn to the experts. In the automotive industry, AAA is one of the most trusted expert organizations. They recommend washing your car once every two weeks. This is a good guideline to follow, and if you're driving almost every day, it's pretty safe to say that your car will have some sort of dirt or dust accumulation on it within two weeks. 

Washing a Car that is Rarely Driven 

If you have a car that sits in the garage most of the time, you don't have to wash it as often as a car that is driven regularly. Some people love their collector cars or their sports cars, and they want to keep them looking spotless even though they rarely get used. In these cases, it's a good idea to only wash as needed. Washing too frequently could result in tiny scratches on the finish. 

When to Wash Your Car Right Away 

If your car gets something sticky or acidic on it, consider washing it right away. Bird droppings are particularly damaging to the paint on a car because of their high acidity. Hot weather can make it even worse.  

Tree sap is another example of a sticky, acidic substance that you should remove immediately. Dead bugs can become difficult to remove if they are left on your car for a long time. Of course, if you drive through mud and your car gets filthy, it's time to take it through the car wash. Leaving heavy dirt caked on your car can be damaging to the finish. 

Winter Car Washing 

If you live in an area that gets snow and ice in the winter, you have to take into account the chemicals on the roads to make them safer. Some areas use sand, which is better for cars. Many areas use salt or a brine solution, and salt is corrosive for the metal used in cars.  

If you are driving on salted roads, you may need to wash your car more often. Consumer Reports recommends driving your car through a touchless car wash that includes an undercarriage spray at least monthly during the winter. 

Washing the entire car is important, but it's the underbody of your car that is going to have the most salt on it. Some car wash cycles do not specifically target the undercarriage, and you may have to upgrade to a different level of car wash to get the underbody spray. 

Other Variables that Make Your Car More or Less Dirty 

When deciding how often you should wash your car, there may be variables unique to your situation that influence your decision. For example, people who drive on dirt or gravel roads will need to wash their cars more often.  

People who live in areas with lots of rain benefit from nature's natural car wash, and they won't have to do it themselves as often. If you park your car outdoors, you may end up washing more frequently than someone who parks their car in a garage. If your car is waxed with a dirt- and water-repellent wax or sealant, you may not need to wash your car as often. 

What Parts of a Car Need to Be Washed? 

When you go through an automatic car wash, you trust that everything that needs to be washed gets washed. If you handle the washing yourself, you need to make sure you're getting all the parts of the car that should be cleaned, such as: 

• The exterior body of the car, including everything that is painted 
• The windows and windshield 
• The mirrors and backup camera 
• The headlights, taillights, and emblems 
• The wiper blades 
• The undercarriage, especially during winter and when driving on dirt roads or driveways 
• The wheel rims, tires, and hub caps 

Don't forget the interior! Cleaning out the inside of your car is called detailing, and it's an important part of keeping your car fresh and clean.

What to Use When Washing Your Car 

There are specialized tools and products that can be used to clean tires and wheels, as well as products to make your windows streak-free. For the rest of the car parts, you can use a hose with a sprayer to rinse everything off, and then use a sponge and a bucket of warm water and car wash soap to get everything clean. A final rinse with clear water gets the soap residue off your car. It is important to dry your car, too, so that you get a nice shine and don't leave any streaks behind. 

Look for an Apartment with a Car Wash Station 

If you are looking for your next apartment in Minot, ND, choose one with a car wash station. That way, you can get your car clean as often as it needs it. Apartment dwellers sometimes face the challenge of not having a convenient area to wash their vehicle, which is why a car wash station is a valuable amenity.  

The Commons & Landing at Southgate is a great place to call home, not only because of its spacious apartments and great location in Minot, but also because it has a car wash station for its residents to use.  Residents living in our studio, 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom homes have access to our private car wash station, as well as our outdoor pool, hot tub, dog park, pet wash station, and fitness center. There’s also underground parking to minimize snow removal in the winter! 

Schedule a tour today, and find out what else The Commons & Landing at Southgate can offer you!