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While many people know how to wash their car, the most efficient time to do so often goes unnoted. There is a common misconception that all car washes should occur around midday during the summer months, however, this is wrong and here’s why.
Why Wash Your Car
Firstly, it is important to cover the basics regarding the necessity of car washes. In a blog post published a year ago, we talked about the inevitability of car damage if you go too long without giving your car a proper wash. Rusting, damaged paint, and corrosion are just a few on the laundry list of harm that could happen if your vehicle isn’t washed for long periods of time.
Now that we’ve rehashed why adequate car care is essential, it’s time to address the best times to give your car that all-too-necessary wash!
When to Wash Your Car
If you are living in a place like Richmond where pollen attaches itself onto virtually everything you own, car washes are the best way to rid that unwanted dirt and that all too familiar plague of yellow dust particles from your car. It is important to wash during a time when it is neither too hot nor too cold. The most effective times to wash your vehicle are in either the morning, evening or during a mildly temperate overcast day, when the sun isn’t directly beating on the car. When temperatures are moderately cooler, as they tend to be during these hours, it is easier to avoid soap residue and stains. When temperatures are hot, water evaporates quicker which results in the evaporation of soapy water before a thorough rinse can wash away all the residues, leaving spots all over your vehicle. Even more so, when you wash your car under direct sunlight, it makes it more difficult to see the minute particles of dirt, dust and pollen laden on the surface of the vehicle. When you can’t see these deposits, you may subject your car to more damage if you unknowingly scrub these areas and scratch the surface of your vehicle.
In the same thread, it is best to avoid overly windy days when washing your car. There is nothing worse than cleaning off all the dirt, dust and pollen from your vehicle only to have a gust of wind pick it up and put it back on a now wet and sticky surface.
Winter Time Care
During the winter months, car care is equally as important. While pollen may not be the culprit in dirtying up your car during this season, snow, frost and ice play similar roles. When you’re washing your car during the winter, it is best to do so when the temperature is well above freezing. Similar to the summer months, washing the car during early daylight is preferable because it allows time for your car to dry before the temperature drops when the sun goes down. According to a blog post from Julia Douglas, the best way to maintain your car’s exterior in between going to the wash every two weeks is to use clean, warm water coupled with a little bit of baking soda to dissolve hardened salt during the winter months. It is important to dissolve the salt before carrying out a thorough cleaning of the car’s surface to avoid any scratching.
Now that you know when to wash your car’s exterior for the best results, stop by one of our 11 locations in the greater Richmond area for easily usable vacuums to tidy up the interior of your freshly washed vehicle!
