The most important and best kind of care for your car is routine preventive maintenance. It can keep your car in good condition for years to come.
However, there is another important aspect of car care – washing and cleaning your car on a regular basis. After all, you don’t just want the inner workings of your car to in top condition. You want your car to look good and clean from the outside as well.
Why is it important to keep the exterior of your car clean always?
As you drive around on a daily basis, your car gets hit by dirt, dust, and all kinds of debris and contaminants such as bird poop, pollen, dust, leaves, gravel, and mud.
If you don’t clean your car regularly, over a period of time, these elements can settle on your car walls and dull the paint. Even a brand new car, if not cleaned regularly, can end up looking really dull and dirty.
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If you are considering selling your car somewhere down the line, you want to keep it in good condition both on the inside and the outside. (And even if you are not considering selling your car, driving a dirty car does not make for good optics!)
Without regular cleaning, the only option left would be to repaint your entire car. However, repainting a car does not come cheap. Washing your car on a regular basis and keeping it clean takes a little time and effort, but it is a far more cost-effective option compared to repainting your car.
Regular Car Washing is Integral to Routine Preventive Maintenance
Most car owners don’t consider washing or cleaning their car to be a part of preventive maintenance. For most people, car cleaning involves simply hosing their car down with water.
However, proper car cleaning is a detailed task – you need to wash and clean everything from the windows and body of the car to your tire hubs and treads. This kind of extensive cleaning involves a sponge, warm water, and soap.
If, however, you are hard pressed for time, you can simply drive down to your regular professional car wash and get the job done for anything between $10 and $20.
Regardless of what option you choose, what matters is that you keep your car clean at all times. This then brings us to the next important question –
How Often Should You Wash Your Car?
The best rule of thumb to follow is to never wait until it starts to actually look dirty. If you drive your car on a daily basis, washing your car once a week or once every two weeks is recommended.
However, if you drive on dirt roads or bad roads, then you might need to wash your car more often.
If you live in a hot desert climate or dry arid zone like Phoenix, Arizona; sand and dust can cover your car from the outside, it can clog the engine, and settle in the cracks and crevices of the car body.
Even if you live in a city with a more temperate climate, or if you live in a zone with cold freezing winters, the daily commute will expose your car to carbon contaminants or salt (which is often used to cover ice roads) – both of which can dull your car’s exterior appearance.
If it affects the paint, then the exposed metal will quickly form rust.
In each of these instances, washing your car on a weekly basis might be the best option. Not only will it keep your car clean but it can also help keep the paint intact for a longer period.
If however, you don’t use your car too often and keep it parked in a garage, it is best that you wash your car once every two weeks or at least once every three weeks.
Reliable Car Maintenance with Professional Auto Experts!
Are you looking for a reliable and professional car service for your car? If yes, you can visit us at Virginia Auto Service for professional maintenance service or for a speedy resolution to all your car troubles.
You can also reach us at 602-266-0200 or schedule a visit with us online at your convenience.