When To Wash Your Car
The “Two T’s” of at-home car washing are Technique and Timing. Details below!
Washing and waxing your car is a crucial part of overall vehicle maintenance. While it may seem that any time and day is appropriate for car washing, choosing the appropriate time of day will significantly improve the results and make your job easier.
There is an optimal time for washing and waxing your vehicle, here is how to find it:
- In summer: make sure to wash your car in the morning. When the weather is hot, or your car has been sitting in the hot sun all day, water will evaporate quickly. Evaporating water will leave behind soap residue and other stains that become impossible to remove until cooler temperatures prevail. When the weather is hot, it’s worth setting the alarm.
- Avoid strong sun: direct sunlight creates several main problems. If the light is bright enough, the glare may prevent you from seeing stains that you need to remove, resulting in a disappointing finish. Strong sunlight will also make polish and wax difficult to apply evenly, and the compounds could bake onto the surface of your vehicle, making them impossible to polish away.
- Avoid strong wind: Washing your car is a delicate procedure. Wind will carry small particles, like dust and sand, that will stick to your car while you are washing and waxing. During polishing these particles could cause scratching. Avoid creating unnecessary paint scratches by cleaning your vehicle on a calm day.
- In winter: make sure to avoid extreme cold temperatures. If you are motivated enough to wash and wax your car in sub-zero temperatures, first of all, we applaud you! However, we also issue a word of caution. If the weather is actually below freezing, washing your car could create a thin layer of ice on your vehicle. This layer will do more harm than good, so it’s best to wait for it to warm up a little before washing and waxing.
Finding appropriate conditions are key for a proper car care routine. Following the guidelines listed above, as well as following these instructions on how to best wash and wax your vehicle will help you keep your ride in showroom condition for years to come.