Do you wash your car/have it washed?

[disneysteve]

Somebody said something on the thread about company cars about getting reimbursed for car washes and that made me wonder how often people wash their cars, whether you do it yourself or take it to a car wash.

Personally, we almost never wash our cars. I can tell you for sure that the last time my car was washed was at the beginning of February. I was on my way to the airport to pick up a visiting guest speaker for our temple and the car looked lousy so I found a car wash and got the cheapest wash they offered. I have no idea when DW's van was last washed but I'd bet it has been at least a year.

My car has over 100K and DW's is over 90K and both are doing fine. We've just never seen much point in spending money to clean them knowing full well that within a day or so, they will be just as dirty again. We do clean the insides - dust the dash and vaccuum the carpet and seats, clean the windows, but we hardly ever do anything to the outsides.

What does everyone else do?

[Tommy Jefferson]

I wash my own cars because it saves money and I do a better job.

Dirt on your car's exterior accelerates paint degradation because it causes oxidation and retains moisture. The layer of fine dirt gets scratched into the paint any time someone brushes against your car with their purse in a parking lot.

At least once per year you should put a coat of wax on your car's paint to protect the clearcoat from oxidation and UV radiation.

Just like with changing the oil to protect your engine, your car will be worth more when you sell it if the paint has been cared for.

[PrincessPerky]

I wash it...at least once a year before I renew the finish/wax stuff...I prefer to do it a bit more often cause that is when I find the mini dings and dents that shopping carts and the like have put in. (which are then reported to someone else to fill/seal)

I also try to wash it during the major pollen season in spring, cause the pollen dust falls of when you open the door to the inside, washing it off reduces the pollen in the car.

Though I do not do it often enough (don't vacuum often enough either .)

[DayByDay]

My husband washes and waxes the vehicles about every 3 months or so. We don't clean the insides as often as we should.

[DebbieL]

I have always washed my own cars. How often depends. I do it more in the summer and less in the winter months.

[mom-from-missouri]

We live on a gravel road, so most ours get washed every 1-2 weeks in the summer (usually by the kids outside at the hydrent). During the winter, we wash it whenever we have driven over roads treated with salt. It tends to rust them out quicker if we don't.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

When kid was little, the car used to get washed fairly often 'cause he loved playing with water and I would just direct him to the car with the hose and a bucket of sudsy water. I used to put a finish on it 1-2 a year. In recent years, we've gotten pretty bad about washing the car despite picking up a lot of dust driving on gravel roads in the warmer months. I'm sure the car has not really been washed since December when a salt removal was called for. I have blasted it with the hose when watering in the garden anyway, but that only removes the loosest layer of dust. I think I should do better for the car because of the paint preservation issues. But another part of me doesn't mind our car looking a little unattractive, as we live in a city where car thefts have at times been higher than average and we park on the city streets. Meh, they probably don't want this boring little car anyway, even if it were spanking new...

Oh, I am fanatic about keeping clean car windows for the best possible visibility. For that reason I also replace windshield wipers more than anyone you ever met. And I mix up detergent water at home for the wiper fluid reservoir. (I buy the store stuff in winter. In iffy weather when it might get just below freezing, I'll add isopropyl alcohol which I think lowers the freezing point.) I clean the windows by hand often, and use the wiper fluid freely as needed while on the road. So the body of the car may be filthy, but the windows, especially the windshield stay clean.

[JanH]

Hubby likes to wash the cars at least once a month. He does it himself unless it is pretty nasty and then he'll take it to the self wash for a quick scrub. We keep some quarters on hand for that. Twice a year during love bug seasons--fall and spring, we have to wash quite often cos those little buggers eat off the paint. I realized that was true when I garaged my car without washing those things off when we evacuated for Rita and their innards ate the paint off the front bumper of my car.

[Ima saver]

My husband is a car nut. He washes the vette and his hot rod every few days. He uses a lot of clean towels because a grain of sand can be in a dirty towel and scratch it. My cars have always looked brand new cause they are so clean. He spends about an hour on the vette every time he washes it. We have special towels for the car.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Nope, rarely if ever.

[Hedy]

I get my car washed only when dirty (ie, I parked my car in a gravel lot while I was on vacation for a week-it was all dusty), I only go to places I have a coupon at.

[Gruntina]

My DH washes the car each time he changes the oil on the vehicle. I used to wash my own car about once a month. Lately I have slacked off due to moving to an area where there is an hour commute to work. I guess I don’t want to spend time washing car and rather be putting my time into sanding the mudded sheetrock in our living room. Sad thing is there is years before the house will ever be finished!

[Gruntina]

I just wanted to add... I may not wash my car often but I did purchase the vehicle to meet my needs, not the other way around. wink!

[sweeps]

I run my car occasionally through the car wash at the gas station. You get a 20c/gal discount if you buy a car wash, so if you fill up an empty tank, the wash is practically free.

[minnie1928]

I have mine washed weekly for free. When I bought my car the dealer said that anytime I'm near the dealership I can just have them run it through the car wash. The dealer isn't out of my way, and it's free...so why not?!