The car-owning crowd nowadays shows utmost care to their beloved cars. To make them look good and keep the exterior shiny, they almost give their cars a "bath" every day. But is frequent car washing good? What important aspects of car washing do car owners need to pay extra attention to? Recently, I interviewed Mr. Xiong Gang, the after-sales service manager of an auto repair shop. He believes that there are many things to note when washing a car, including the washing process, frequency, environment, and weather, all of which have many particularities. Additionally, the technicians at the shop remind us that cars should ideally be washed every two to three days. The car washing process is the most important.
Mr. Xiong told us that the car washing process is what car owners need to pay the most attention to. Before washing, one must first rinse the body with clear water because the car might have accumulated a lot of sand particles. If you wash directly, the sand might scratch the car paint. Therefore, it's necessary to first rinse the sand as much as possible with clear water before applying car wash liquid for cleaning.
When choosing car wash liquid, one should opt for neutral car wash liquid, because strong alkaline detergents can accelerate the aging of the paint surface, rubber, and tires. Moreover, car washing towels should be used specifically for this purpose, not ordinary towels, as car paint exposed to air for long periods is actually very fragile and the paint can easily flake off. Dedicated car washing towels, unlike regular towels, don't leave fine fibers on the car's surface, causing less damage to the paint. When wiping the car after washing, dedicated car wiping towels should also be used. Furthermore, car washing towels and car wiping towels should be separated and not mixed. When washing the car, use soft and clean sponges to scrub because the car body generally has hard dust and mud. If you directly use high-pressure water flow to rinse, it's equivalent to letting dust particles perform "abrasive motion" on the car paint. When wiping the glass windows, a specialized glass cleaner should be used, and the windows should be dried with a clean towel instead of being left to dry in the sun.
For cleaning oil stains, a sponge dipped in kerosene or gasoline should be gently used. When wiping the steering wheel, lights, and other plastic and rubber parts, only ordinary soapy water should be used; organic solvents such as gasoline, stain removers, and diluents should not be used.
Car Washing Frequency: 2 to 3 Days Once
Regarding the frequency of car washing, Mr. Xiong Gang believes that under normal circumstances, washing the car 2 to 3 times a week is best. Car washing should not be too frequent because frequent washing will accelerate the oxidation of the paint surface. However, if the car encounters dust, mud, heavy rain, etc., the owner should quickly clean the vehicle. Also, vehicles should not go unwashed for long periods because rainwater, acidic components in the air, bird droppings, dust, and other harmful substances' erosion and adhesion can accelerate the aging and damage of the paint. Damaged paint can cause the metal parts of the car to oxidize due to lack of protection, leading to early damage of the car. Additionally, if the vehicle remains unwashed for a long time, some sealing rubber strips may not receive timely care and could age and fail, degrading the seal performance.
Car Washing Environment: Find Windless, Spacious Areas
When washing a car, try to choose windless sunny days in relatively spacious, well-drained carports. This is because if there is wind, the wind may carry dust and pollutants, making it difficult to ensure the effectiveness of the car wash.
It’s also best to wash your car during neither cold nor hot weather. Cloudy days are unfavorable for drying residual water, and if the temperature is too high, both the metal panels and the paint surface of the vehicle will expand. In this case, washing the car would result in thermal expansion followed by rapid cooling, which can cause the paint to become brittle and crack. Additionally, after washing the car, areas prone to accumulating dirt and water stains, such as the engine hood hinges, wiper roots, ends of glass seals, trunk lid drainage grooves, and base of antennas, should be carefully wiped clean. For some rust-prone areas, spraying paint or grease for rust prevention treatment is recommended.