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How often should you wash your car?
There is no single right interval. In winter, when the roads are salted, it is worth washing the car more often than in summer. Bird droppings, insects and tree sap are best washed off straight away, even if the rest of the car is clean. Otherwise the car itself shows when it needs a wash: below are the signs to look out for.
In winter, salt sets the pace
Road salt and moisture together speed up rust. Salty slush sticks to the sills, the wheel arches and the tailgate, and it stays damp for a long time. So in winter there is no point waiting until the car looks bad: when you see a grey film of salt on the sills, it is time for a wash.
In dry, freezing weather less salt gets sprayed up, and the wash can wait longer. After slushy weather, on the other hand, it is worth washing soon. Winter washing is covered in more detail in our article on washing your car in winter.
Less often in summer, but some dirt must go at once
In summer the car usually needs washing less often, because there is no salt. The exceptions are bird droppings, insects and tree sap. They harden in the heat and can damage the clear coat if they are left on the surface for long. Wash them off as soon as you can, even if the rest of the wash can wait. You will find instructions for removing them yourself in our article on bird droppings.
Signs that the car needs a wash
- There is a grey film or mud splashes on the sills and the tailgate.
- The headlights, mirrors or number plate are dirty. This already affects what you can see and how well others can see you.
- Water no longer beads on the surface, even though the car has been waxed. Dirt has covered the wax, or the wax has worn off.
- A finger wiped across the paint leaves a visible mark.
- There is sand and mud on the door sills.
Storage and mileage make a difference
A car that is driven a lot gets dirty faster than one that is driven little, and a car parked outdoors faster than one kept in a garage. A car parked under a tree collects leaves, sap and bird droppings, so it is worth checking more often.
Wax or a coating does not remove the need to wash, but dirt comes off a protected surface more easily. The wash is then quicker, and the surface needs less rubbing.
In spring and autumn
In spring and autumn the tyres are changed, and it makes sense to combine the wash with the same visit. In spring the winter salt and sand are washed off the car; in autumn it is prepared for winter. Each has an article of its own: spring car care and getting your car ready for winter.
Which wash for which situation
For regular washing, Basic wash (€34–47) is enough, and it also covers the door frames and rubber mats. If it has been a while since the last wash, Premium wash (€39–52) also lifts the greasy traffic film with a solvent wash. Seasonal wash (€49–62) adds a quick wax, which helps the dirt come off more easily next time. The quick wax lasts for about 3–4 washes, usually 1–3 months. The differences between the washes are set out in our article on the three hand washes.