Why is it Important to Wash Your Car?
Why You Should Regularly Wash Your Car
In our experience, vehicle owners fall into a couple of categories when it comes to washing their vehicles. One group will keep their vehicle meticulously clean and the other is far laxer about getting it washed. Neither is better than the other, but there are a few reasons why you should regularly wash your car. We often evangelize the importance of making sure regular maintenance and scheduled service are performed regularly on any automobile. In a perfect world, having your car, truck or SUV regularly detailed would fall under that umbrella for most people as well. Let’s take a look at some interesting information you should probably know.
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3 Reasons to Keep Your Car Clean
1. Protect the Vehicle’s Exterior
Finding the perfect vehicle in the perfect paint colour is one of the most satisfying things about the entire buying process. A vehicle’s exterior paint is more than just an aesthetic choice. Automotive paint is designed to resist the elements and prevent the underlying metal from rusting away into dust. Regularly washing your vehicle removes dirt and other environmental contaminants that can cause the paint finish to break down. Like anything else in the automotive world, preventive maintenance will help extend the vehicle’s lifespan.
2. Maintain Safe Operation
Even if you have a brand new model that is equipped with every piece of technology an automaker has to offer, the driver remains the most important factor in the safe operation of an automobile. Nobody can drive safely if they can’t see out of the passenger cabin. Regular car washes will ensure that the windshield and the rest of the car’s glass are clean and clear. Spending some extra time cleaning the windshield, rear window and mirrors is especially important in the winter when salt and other grime can accumulate quickly.
3. Retain Value
You will never be happier that you’ve regularly kept your car, truck or SUV clean than when it comes time to buy a new one. Few things will hurt resale or trade-in value more than visible rust spots on the exterior. Regular washings will let vehicle owners know there is a ding or a scratch that could lead to rust and remove dirt that can accelerate the corrosion process.
How Often Should You Wash Your Car?
There is no hard and fast rule for how often a vehicle needs to be washed. Every two weeks seems to be the standard answer when we polled people around the Southside Dodge facility. Of course, the season and your local area may bring different requirements. During the winter when salt trucks are coating the roads to keep the ice at bay, you might want to run your car, truck or SUV through a touchless car wash weekly, as long as it isn’t too cold. Also, if your vehicle has attracted the attention of local birds or is parked under a tree and gets covered in sap, you’ll want to increase the detailing frequency. Bird droppings and tree sap are notoriously harmful to automotive paint.
You can contact the Southside Dodge Service Department anytime you have questions about the best way to care for your vehicle. Make an appointment with us when it’s time for scheduled maintenance.