While you may not neglect to take a shower regularly, it can be easy to forget when you should give your car a proper wash. Some drivers may not give their car a wash for weeks or even months on end, but that is not a recommended practice. If you want to show your car proper care, you should regularly schedule time to get your car washed.
Doing so will help you protect your vehicle from all the elements that can get it dirty — like acid rain, tree sap, and bird droppings to name a few. We at the Rydell Auto Group want to help all our Grand Forks, North Dakota, drivers keep their cars looking their best. Let’s take a look at some more reasons why you should regularly get your car washed.
How Frequently Should a Car Be Washed in the Winter?
Even if you drive a rugged work truck, if you live in an area that can get heavy loads of snow and ice during the winter months, then you should wash your car or get you car washed in winter once a week at the very least. This may sound like an extreme cleaning schedule, but it is necessary if you want to protect your car’s paint job and undercarriage from the damage that can be caused by road salt.
There is more to cleaning your car than simply paying attention to a regular schedule. Be sure to wash your vehicle only when the temperature outside is higher than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If you were to wash your car at lower temperatures, you could actually hurt the exterior of your car. For example, if you were to douse your car with water on a very cold day, the water could freeze and then cause ice damage to your paint. This is one of the many reasons it can be easier and safer to clean your car in winter at a professional car wash.
In order to avoid harm from the weather or road salt alike, make sure you have a plan to wash your car as often as the temperature allows.
How Frequently Should a Car Be Washed in the Summer?
The changing of the seasons also hails the changing of your car wash routine. While the tough conditions of winter may require you to wash your car once every week, the summer season tends to give car owners some time to relax between washes. During these warmer months, you’ll only need to wash your car about every two weeks.
There are different factors that will affect this schedule, such as how you store your car or where you live. For example, if your area tends to have higher humidity and is prone to hosting a big bug population that seems to find itself decorating your windshield, then you should have your car washed closer to every 10 days or so.
Of course, you can also do yourself a favor and store your car in a garage after a wash. This added protection can decrease the need to wash your car dramatically. If you keep your car in a garage or even under a fabric car cover, you could potentially only need to wash your car once a month instead of three times a month.
How Frequently Should the Undercarriage Be Washed?
Many drivers have not given their car’s undercarriage much thought and most would not realize that washing the undercarriage of their car is vital to their car’s overall care. It’s important to note that while you should be sure to clean the undercarriage, it does not need to be cleaned as frequently as the rest of your car.
If you mostly use your car for commutes to work and running errands, the undercarriage of your car should ideally be washed four times a year, or, if it helps you remember, once a season. If you regularly take your car on off-roading adventures or enjoy exploring the path less traveled, you should plan on washing the undercarriage at least six times during the year.
How Frequently Should a Car Be Washed To Defend Against Rust?
If you are concerned about rust forming on your vehicle, stick to the rule of thumb and wash your car every two weeks during warmer weather. Of course, during the winter when salt is on the road, you should be extra vigilant. When the colder months set in, plan on treating your car to a bath every ten days — not only to defend against road salt damage but rust spots as well.
How Often Should a Car Be Waxed?
Washing your car is an important step to maintain your car, but you should also be waxing your vehicle. When you wax your car, not only do you give it that new car sheen, but you are also adding a protective layer that blocks the effects of harsh ultraviolet rays, vehicular pollution, and tree sap. Typically, you should only need to complete this task four times during of the year.
Of course, if you are driving a classic restoration, you should plan to wax it more frequently. While applying wax to your car does take a bit of work, the overall benefits of doing so are worth all the effort.
Should You Use an Automatic Car Wash Regularly?
Generic automatic car washes are incredibly convenient but they should only be used if you are in a pinch for time. These car washing services come with a long list of fine print attached because they were not created with every make and model of car in mind. Using an unmanned automatic car wash service regularly can result in a lot of unnecessary headaches like a torn-off antenna that needs replacing, water spots, and the harsh chemicals in such facilities can actually start to destroy your car’s clear coat over time, resulting in corrosion and, ultimately, rust.
You can avoid all these issues by taking the time to hand wash your car. By implementing this tried and true method you can prevent the usual wear and tear on your vehicle while making it look brand new at the same time.
Contact the Rydell Car Wash
We at the Rydell Auto Group hope that this article has illustrated the importance of regularly washing your car. If you still have questions about the best way to maintain your vehicle during any season, get in touch with us. We look forward to helping all our Grand Forks drivers.
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