How Often Should You Wash Your Car?

Feb 23, 2018

A clean car is a happy car. There is more truth to that then you might realize. Here at Classic Kia, your Kia dealership near Kenosha, WI, we want you to know that keeping your car clean should be part of your regular maintenance routine. Letting it go too long without a wash can cause problems down the line.

Cleaning your car is not just a reactive measure to make it look nice when it’s dirty. Particulates in the air or rain or snow can have a damaging effect on your car’s exterior over time. Prolonged exposure can lead to rust and erosion.

A great jumping off point for keeping your car clean would be to wash it every other week. However, exactly how often you should wash it comes down to a couple key factors.

Location – If you live near an ocean there is going to be more salt in the environment. Because salt is particularly harmful, you should probably wash your car weekly.

Parking Space – If your car spends a majority of its downtime in a garage it is less likely to come into contact with harmful substances and therefore can go longer without a wash.

Your primary concern is mitigating your cars exposure to damaging substances. Some of them are more obvious than others, which is why regular washes are a good idea, even if your car doesn’t look dirty. If you decide to wash it yourself, be sure to use a soap dedicated to car washing. Other soaps can do more harm than good. Also, try to keep up with twice yearly wax coats to add even more protection to your car.

When you buy a great car like the 2018 Kia Soul from us here at Classic Kia, we want it to have the longevity you expect. Proper maintenance is the way to make that happen and regular car washes is part of that process.