Do you believe the common misconception that your vehicle does not need auto detailing work or a nice car wash after it rains? A lot of people even think natural rainfall will do the work of a car wash for them, but this actually can do a lot of harm if you allow the dirt and build up left over from raindrops to sit on your vehicle for a long time. Don’t worry though, we’ve got your back on everything you need to know about how often you should wash your vehicle after it rains!
Natural Pollutants
Rainwater might be natural, but it’s not a good substitute for a regular car wash, and leaving your car uncared for after a long rain shower can be detrimental to its long-term health. This is because rainwater is not as clean as you might think it is. As the raindrops fall through the air, they collect pollutants that are in the air and bring them down with them, where they will end up on your car. More importantly though, when the raindrops are condensing in the clouds, they will pull in dirt, dust, and other muck with them, which then comes down onto your car as fresh rain.
These contaminants will remain on the paint of your car after the rainwater evaporates, and they will stay there until you wash your car or get auto detailing work done. This means they will have all that time to sit in the sun and slowly corrode parts of your vehicle. While this will not appear to be a problem at first, over time, the damage will add up.
Acid Rain
If you live in an area with heavy air pollution, then you may need auto detailing services much more frequently than you might think. With the right cocktail of pollutants in the air, when raindrops condense around them, acid rain will fall, and this is not only toxic to wildlife and rivers, but it will also damage your vehicle very quickly. Acid rain left on your car can etch water marks into it, causing damage that will need to be buffed and polished out.
How Frequently to Wash After Rain
Ideally, you would want to clean your car right after it rains in order to remove all the dirt and pollutants as quickly as possible. However, this might not seem possible for most people. Within 10 days of a long shower is a good window of opportunity to remove everything that’s been left behind on your car, but even washing your car every two weeks will have enormous benefits to the condition of your vehicle in the long term.
Just Wipe it Down?
If you are short on time and can’t wash your vehicle or get auto detailing work done after a rain shower but still want to clean your car, a good option is wiping your car down. Of course, you will want to use a microfiber cloth in order to not scratch your paint. A microfiber cloth is the best option because it locks in dirt and carries it away instead of only picking up some of the dirt and spreading the rest around. A clean microfiber cloth is essential for the cloth to collect dirt properly, so make sure your microfiber cloth is always clean!
Did you learn something surprising about rain water and the effects it can have on your vehicle today? If you were just as surprised as us about the facts on how rain affects your car, then let us know in the comments, and also let us know if you think of any ways to fit more car washing into your busy schedule!
