How often do you wash your car?

@mommyboo (13174)
United States
May 21, 2008 8:22pm CST
In the winter I don't usually wash it at all, but summer is coming and I try to keep it clean so it looks nice. I'd say I do a quick drive thru wash every other week or every week, and I go to a place that details the inside (vacuum, wipedown) at least once a month. I probably need to get the carpets shampooed soon too. Do you wash yours yourself, use a self service washing bay, drive thru, or take it to a detail shop? =)
4 people like this
17 responses
@goldeneagle (6745)
• United States
22 May 08
about twice a year. Otherwise, I let the rain take care of it. I do take the hose and spray it off every now and then, but I don't usually wash it.
2 people like this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
22 May 08
LOL! I live in the desert, it doesn't rain much here. I also have a black car... black car and dust equals dirty car.
• United States
22 May 08
I don't wash my car often. Sometimes I'll spray it off during the summer to get rid of the pollen or dust from the sawmill across the road from our house. Otherwise I let nature take care of it. I see no need to constantly wash my car. It's annoying to be that attached and worry that much about an object that takes you places.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 May 08
I understand your point of view but that's definitely not where I come from. It's just sad in my opinion that people are that attached and obsessed over cars. It just doesn't make sense.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
22 May 08
I spend a lot of time in mine and I have several kids. On top of that, I tend to have extra people riding with me anyway unless I decide to ride with them instead. I suppose my attempts are just to keep a relatively clean vehicle because I am in there so often. I don't park in my garage because it is full of stuff and my husband's motorcycle, and we have a large annoying tree that hangs over the driveway. The stupid thing drips sap all over my car and until I can get my husband to get it removed, I have to live with it. I am also determined not to turn into one of those soccer mom people who drives the dirtiest ugliest minivan covered in dirt and 'wash me' written in the dirt and the inside sticky and covered in trash and food and toys and other things. Like my house, it is a bit of a reflection on me and I suppose that's why I care.
• Canada
22 May 08
That's assuming eeryone who reads this discussion is a car owner. LOL I just had to laugh. I don't have a car, and ride the bus. I think it would be really har to it the bus through the car wash. LOL
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
22 May 08
Aha! I didn't think about somebody not owning a car responding. It does make me wonder though how often the city washes the buses. Hmmm...
• India
22 May 08
once in a month but now i stop washing my car now rainy season is about to come.
1 person likes this
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
23 May 08
i never wash my car. it is just not something i ever get around to. if and when it gets done at all my husband and son do it in our driveway. i am not that into my car. i just want it to get me from point a to point b. i would like the inside to be cleaned and soon though. a good vacuuming and some dusting of the dashboard and cup holders would do nicely. maybe i will get to it this weekend because of your post.
• United States
22 May 08
drive thru is the most convenient option, living in an apartment, but it gets expensive and I don't hold a lot of pride in my car, so it happens a lot less than it should. My girlfriend has a black car and keeps it spotless, same with the drive thru wash, and I know it gets washed close to every week. She tries to get it waxed in the spring and again in the fall as well, which really helps keep the shine. We're actually planning to wax it up this weekend. Just a suggestion that I'm sure has been considered, is there any way to get a helping hand from your husband? even if it took a little bribery...or maybe force the kids to start helping...my parents had me washing cars when I was 10.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
22 May 08
Sometimes we take it through a drivethru, and sometimes we wash it ourselves. We don't do it nearly often enough, although to me it isn't the highest priority because inevitably, right after we wash the car, it will start to rain.
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
22 May 08
One of the reasons that I love rainy day is that I don’t have to wash my car frequently. During rainy season there is less dust and while driving in the rain, rain water could rinse away the dust on my car. During the dusty dry season I have to wash my car at least once or twice in a week. I vacuum the inside of the car in every other week.
• Canada
22 May 08
I never take my car to a car-wash or self-wash place - I always do it at home. I'm super picky so I wash it once a week usually. I also take my car into the dealership to get it serviced every few monthes and have it professionally detailed while it's there.
@sunkissed (4330)
• United States
22 May 08
I get my car washed at least once a week. I used to wash it and clean it up myself here at the house. i would have the cleanest shinyest car in town. But I can't do it any longer, so now I take it to the drive-through car wash.Then I put the tire shne on it when I get home.I get it detailed about every 3 months.
@anawar (2404)
• United States
22 May 08
I have to wash my Jeep in the winter because of all the salt on the roads. The funny part is that I have to wait for a day warm enough not to freeze the water! I wash my vehicle more if I'm with someone who washes their car often. I think, well, it he's out there, I might as well do mine. I like having the option of washing my own car at home, but that's not always possible in some places where I live. It's off to the auto-wash then, but they never do a good job. I can't use the self-service washing bay because I'm not a very graceful person, even though I should be. I'm strong, but not strong enough to handle one of those hoses without looking like an idiot! I wish I did take better care of my Jeep! Especially the vacuuming part.
@cortjo73 (6498)
• United States
22 May 08
I am not allowed to wash my car right now because my county in Georgia is under a 100% water ban due to the drought. But, I do take it to the car wash now and then. Not very often though. In fact, not as often as I should. But, especially now, in my defense, there is still a ton of pollen which practically negates the car wash within an hour of going there. LOL! So, I rely on any rain we might get, for now, to clean my ride up a little. And, the fact that I am trying to limit how much I drive my car right now, what with gas prices being so high, I don't really feel I need to wash it that much given the fact that, if it isn't on the road very much, how dirty can it get? LOL! Speaking of gas prices, I can't entirely afford to wash my car all that often either! So, I am lazy but obeying the law and cheap but, not because I want to be! LOL!
@flowerhorn (1008)
• Malaysia
22 May 08
once in 3months.I guess I am the lazy type.As it get dirty very fast,why bother? But in 3 months time,it is too dirty for me.and I cannot stand the dust.So no choice,have to do the washing.
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
22 May 08
well, that's a good question!! We seldom wash our cars. I remember my husband wash his, twice a year and mine is I think the same as he did. It is because we are living in a country area where there is no dust, we have lots of trees around which maybe helped to ease the dust pollution away. We just wash it ourselves to save our money paying the car wash.
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
22 May 08
Once in about two months. But, during snow time, the roads get slushy and cars get all muddied up, then I have to wash more often, ofcourse when the temperature is not below zero ! I use the "car wash drive through" service.
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
22 May 08
I wash my car about once a month or so. In the winter months it only gets done maybe once or twice and that is only if it is an unseasonably warm day. I need to wash my car pretty bad right now. It is covered in pollen. I normally take mine to a do it yourself car wash, but I will occasionally do the drive thru one if I am feeling lazy.
• India
22 May 08
well friend i have to wash my car every other alternate day as here it is very dusty.One cant keep the car like that for very long.Well and in a month i do send my car for the service so as to keep it in maintainance. all the best and have a nice day...