Car Washing: Time is of the Essence!

Car Washing: Time is of the Essence!

Keeping your ride clean is a very important part of overall vehicle maintenance. While it’s tempting to simply wash the car at whatever time of day is most convenient for our schedules, there are actually specific conditions you need to search for and avoid in order to get the best possible result.

Here is how to find the ideal time to wash and wax your vehicle:

In summer: the best time to wash your car is in the morning, before it gets too hot. When it’s hot out, or your car is hot from sitting in the sun all day, water will evaporate quickly. When soapy water evaporates, soap residue and dissolved solids will be left on your vehicle and impossible to remove until it cools down. For the sake of your vehicle and your time, it’s worth getting the washing done before the day heats up.

Avoid strong sun: direct sunlight has several undesirable consequences. Extreme glare will prevent you from seeing stains that you will want to remove, possible resulting in an unsatisfying finish. If you are waxing, strong sunlight will make it difficult to apply an even layer. The worst case scenario is waxing compounds will baking onto your finish; this problem is very unsightly and a huge pain to fix.

Avoid strong wind: Washing your car is a delicate procedure, and is bets conducted in a controlled environment. A strong breeze will deposit small particles, like dust and sand, that will stick to your car while you are working. During scrubbing or polishing, these particles could cause scratching. Cleaning your vehicle on a calm day is the best way to avoid unwanted paint scratches.

In winter: make sure to avoid extremely cold temperatures (not usually a problem in Victoria, but worth mentioning!). If you are somehow motivated enough to wash your car in sub-zero temperatures, first of all, good for you! Not to dampen your enthusiasm, but we’d like to issue a word of caution. If the temperatures are actually sub-zero, a thin layer of ice could form on your vehicle. You really want to avoid having any ice form on your paint’s finish, as it could seriously damage your clear coat. It’s best to wait for warmer temps to wash your car, or take it to a facility that is temperature controlled.

Finding appropriate conditions are a key component of proper automotive maintenance. Following the guidelines listed above will help you keep your ride in showroom condition for years to come.

If your busy schedule prevents you from finding the ideal time to wash your car, don’t worry. Bring it in for a Quick Wash and we can have your car professionally cleaned with zero hassle.