Can You Wash Your Car Too Much? (Explained)

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Whether you’re doing it yourself or using an automatic car wash, washing your car is essential for its maintenance. But what if we enjoy washing our cars so much that we do it unnecessarily too often? What if we become addicted to washing our cars? Will it damage the car’s paint? That leaves us with an important question, can you wash your car too much?

Well, there is no such thing as washing your car too much. In fact, washing your car a lot is a good thing. However, if you don’t take the necessary precautions, it might damage your car. Simply put, you can wash your car as much as you want, as long as you do it right.

As you can see, washing your car “too much” isn’t a problem. However, you need to follow some guidelines on proper car washing, and you can wash it as many times as you want. So, what are these necessary precautions? Let’s check them out.

Don’t Wash Your Car Under Harsh Sunlight

One familiar mistake car owners make is washing their cars under harsh sunlight. We strongly recommend that you avoid this at all costs. Even though sunny days make car washing fun, it isn’t without its cons.

Exposure to harsh sunlight heats the car’s surface, causing cleaning products to dry up faster. If the cleaning product dries up before you can wash it off the car, chances are it will damage the finish. Moreover, it makes the entire washing process more difficult as the water also dries up faster. So if you’re planning on washing your car a lot, we suggest you dodge the sunlight.

Related: TOP 6 Tips On How To Wash a Car On a Hot Sunny Day

To avoid any problems, we recommend washing your car in the early morning’s before 9 am. If you aren’t an early riser, you can always do it in the evenings, after 4 pm. If this schedule doesn’t work for you, try washing your car in a shaded area. You might even want to use a pop-up tent to avoid the sun’s exposure.

But what if you don’t have access to a shaded area or cannot wash your car during low light? Don’t worry; we have a few tips for you that will reduce the damage to your car. In such situations, we recommend that you only wash one portion at a time.

Stick with a portion and only move on to the next spot after you’re done with the former. Doing so will prevent the issue of the soap drying too fast, thus removing any chances of damage.

Use The Right Quality of Chemicals And Tools

The most crucial decision to make while washing your car is the choice of products to use. If you wash your car regularly, you absolutely cannot ignore this factor. The quality of chemicals and tools used can either make or break your car. Using the wrong soap or wax can completely destroy your car’s paint and dampen it over time.

Some people use dishwashing soap or shampoo to wash their cars, please don’t make the same mistake. We agree that being economical is cool, but hampering the well-being of your car is definitely not. Always use car-friendly and approved products for the job. Using items available in the house saves you a couple of bucks but costs you painfully in the long run.

Another factor is the quality of tools used for car washing. Many people use a regular sponge to wash a car, but doing so will only increase your problems. These inferior tools may cause scratches or webs to form on your car’s surface. Washing your car regularly without the proper materials will cause the paint to dull out in the long run.

To avoid this issue, make sure you use a microfibre towel. Microfiber is a soft and durable absorbent that is ideal for washing a car. The material is safe to use and won’t cause any damage to your car’s surface. It is simply a must-have material if you like washing your car regularly.

Wash Your Car Responsibly

Washing your car can be a tiring process, no matter how much you enjoy it. You can be as careful as a fox, but the possibility of making mistakes here and there are always lurking. There shouldn’t be any space for carelessness or tomfoolery. Respect the process and don’t take an easy way out.

Some people use the same microfiber cloth throughout the wash without even cleaning it. That is precisely the kind the thing you want to avoid here. In our books, that is a huge red flag. Washing a car is not an activity for people prone to laziness. It is hard work that requires your complete and unfiltered attention.

Your car carries all manner of dirt, filth and grime stuck in the deepest nooks and crevices. This means your cloth is going to get downright dirty during the process. It’s very typical for the microfiber towel to become a big ball of muck at this point. So naturally, it makes sense to clean it thoroughly in between.

That’s why I always recommend using a 3-bucket method when washing vehicles.

Cleaning your car with dirty towels defeats the whole purpose. All your going to end up doing is spreading the dirt all over again. You might not see any damage now, but it does affect your car’s surface over time.

If cleaning your towel mid-game is not an option you prefer, then at least keep a spare. Look at it this way; you wouldn’t wash your face with a muddy hankie now, would you?

Dry Your Car Responsibly

Most of us forget that drying our car responsibly is also an essential aspect of the process. Drying your car with a towel requires patience and skill, especially when it comes to the windows. Any wrong movement creates spots on the glass and can be particularly annoying. You try to fix it, but you only make it worse and worse. Before you know it, you find yourself in the middle of a frustrating situation.

Our suggestion? Use proper microfiber drying towels, or dry your car without touching it. Contactless drying with a car dryer avoids creating any spots or streaks. So give those tired arms a rest and let the dryer calm your mind. We assure you it beats hand drying any day. 

Avoid Automatic Car Wash Services.

If you like washing your car often, we highly recommend that you avoid using an automatic car wash. While we admit that it gets the job done, there’s no certainty that it won’t damage your car. Automatic car washes remove the burden of doing it yourself, but they come with severe side effects. 

Related: 7 Reasons Not To Use Automatic Car Washes

In an automatic car wash, you can’t handpick the quality of the chemicals or brush being used. Exposure to low-quality chemicals over and over again can hamper your car’s protective layering.

The result? Your car’s paint will be much more vulnerable to deterioration. Even if car wash services promise the use of safe products, you can never actually check for yourself. Why go with that kind of certainty?

Automatic car washes operate mechanically, which misses out on the benefits of delicate hand washing. All that rough and tough scrubbing is bound to leave swirl marks and scratches on your car. No sane car owner would put their beloved vehicle through such a chaotic ordeal.

While taking a bath, would you do it yourself or rely on a mechanical, human bather? Your car is an extension of who you are, don’t do anything to it that you wouldn’t do to yourself.

So when it comes to washing your car, wash it yourself, or at least hire a professional detailer.

However, it might be that you constantly have a busy schedule and can’t waste your precious time on handwashing. If that’s the case, don’t worry, there is always a solution. If automatic car washing is your only option, we suggest you go for a contactless one. Although it’s not ideal, it can significantly reduce the chances of dents or scratches. After all, if it’s good for your car, why not go for it?

Conclusion

There you have it, folks; washing your car too much will never be a problem if you do it right. Although we understand that you might have a tough time with these steps, we’re confident you can do it. Even if you make some mistakes initially, keep practicing till you get better. Remember, practice makes perfect. Before we wrap things up, there are a few things we have to tell you.

Here’s my complete guide on How To Wash Your Car Properly Without Scratching The Paint, so make sure to check it out.

While washing your car regularly is not a problem, it does bring some added costs. Consequences do come from repeated car washes, which might add to your expenses. Washing your car too often might hamper your car’s tire dressings. So you might want to get used to re-applying them frequently. The same can be said about plastic restorers.

An important thing you should know is that your car wax gets weakened after every wash. To avoid this issue, you’ll have to up your wax game. We hope you enjoy spraying wax, cause it’s definitely something unavoidable. Well, folks, that brings us to the end of this post. We’re confident that you’ll learn our guidelines and give your car the proper cleaning it needs. Happy washing! 

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