Washing Your Car: How Often Should You Do It?

Your car is a huge investment. Some people love to buy new cars while others prefer to buy a used one. Whether you've paid it off or you're still paying for it, taking proper care of your automobile is important. Maintaining your car includes everything from auto detailing to brakes, oil changing, and tire rotations.

One part you may not do near as often as you should is getting a solid car wash for your vehicle. Some may do it a few times a year while others wash it once a week. The question many ponder in taking care of their car is how often should they really be washing their vehicle and having auto detailing done?

Car Wash Recommendations

As a general rule of thumb, you should wash your vehicle every two weeks. That is if you're not driving down dirt roads daily or in an area where salt is used on the highways. This is under normal wear and tear circumstances. While you might think that your car wash experience is limited to the summer, due to the salt in winter it is needed more often than you might think. For those who live near the ocean or where salt is used on the roads, you should wash it more frequently. This is because the salt can cause your vehicle to rust earlier than normal. If you store your vehicle in your garage or if you do not drive it on a daily basis, you can do a car wash less often than that.

Auto Detailing

The inside of your car should also be taken care of to give it a long life and great look for years to come. Auto detailing can help you to take care of the upholstery, floor mats, console and overall general cleanliness of the vehicle. It is important that you do this on a regular basis as well. If you don't eat or drink in your car, it may not have to be done as often. However, those who "live" in their cars will find that auto detailing is required more frequently.

Waxing

When you're trying to protect your investment, waxing is a great way to do that. It helps to keep the paint protected, makes it look great, and keeps those corrosive substances you run into every day away from damaging the car. It is recommended that you do this at least twice a year. That will help you protect your car from the elements and keep the paint job looking great for the life of the car.

Remember that washing your car and having it detailed and waxed are for more than just the looks of the  vehicle. It helps to protect the investment you've put into your car. Whether you take it to a car wash or you do it yourself, remember to have it done on a regular basis to protect and beautify your ride.