How often should I wash my car?
Cleaning-chemical manufacturers recommend washing your car every two weeks or so, depending on how often you use it and the weather conditions in your geographical location. However, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and where you drive.
If you drive on dirt roads in the summer or salty streets in the winter, you’ll likely want to wash much more frequently than if you’re only making casual commutes on clean, paved highways. But even on the cleanest roads, bugs, dirt, and other debris can be kicked up onto and underneath your vehicle. Evaluate your vehicle every time you drive.
Can I use a pressure washer to wash my car?
Yes, you can use a pressure washer to wash your car. However, using the correct nozzle and pressure setting is important to avoid damaging your car’s paint and any external features.
Where should I wash my car?
It’s recommended that you wash your vehicle out of direct sunlight and in an area where water and chemicals can properly drain away as needed.
Do I need to dry my car after washing it?
It’s important to dry your car after washing it to avoid water spots and prevent rust from forming on your car’s metal surfaces. It’ll also prevent other dirt and debris from immediately sticking to the vehicle after a wash.
Why Trust Us
Our evaluations were conducted in an environment that provided equal testing procedures for each product: the Car and Driver garage. We evaluated the build quality of the included components, assessed the value of the kits, and took notes throughout our hands-on analysis to come to our conclusions.
Hearst Autos combines the talent, resources, and expertise of three of the largest, most influential automotive publications in the world. We don’t need to game search engines to get traffic, or promote lousy products just to make a sale. We’re more concerned with our legacy, our reputation, and the trust that our readers have in Autoweek, Car and Driver, and Road & Track to deliver honest evaluations and expert opinions.
Read more about our product testing and evaluation process here.
