How Often Should You Wash Your Car?

Some car owners wash their vehicle daily. Others once or twice weekly. And there are those who only do so when vandals have finger-written a good number of phallic symbols on the caked dust. Which ultimately begs the question--when it comes to cleaning your car, how often is enough?

As a rule of thumb, most car professionals recommend washing your car every two weeks or so to protect the paint finish and reduce the risk of rust. After all is said and done though, the answer to how often you should wash your car is not a straightforward one. There are a number of considerations that determine the regularity of the cleaning activity you need performed.

Frequency of car use—if you drive your car out for several hours every single day, then you expose your car to a barrage of harmful elements that can ruin the finish of your car. In this case, you'll have to wash your car more regularly than suggested.

Car storage—do you keep your car parked in a shaded garage where environmental threats can't affect your vehicle, or do you simply leave it out on the street? Those who park their car outdoors must face the wrath of the different forces of nature--from typhoons to bird droppings--as these can deal damage to the car in unimaginable ways.

Driving environment—if you live in the highly polluted urban jungle, you'll have to contend with heat, dust, heavy traffic, and possibly, acid rain. Living in the province, the tree-lined roads and highways can riddle with your car with insects, leaves, bird droppings, and even falling branches. Meanwhile, sand, dust, and salt are real issues for those who live near the sea. Seaside residents need to wash more often, as the salt in the air can speed up the corrosion of the metal parts.

Preferred resale value—plan to sell your car in the future? You'll need to keep the car in like-new condition for higher resale value later.

Washing your car regularly is eventually a wise and cost-effective way of protecting what is unarguably an asset in your life. Make sure to set aside some time for the task, depending on the need for it.

To help keep your spirits up for the tiresome task of washing your car, make sure to play this catchy little ditty.