The Best Weather to Wash Your Car

Taking care of your car is an essential aspect of maintaining its performance and longevity. Along with keeping your tires in shape, changing the oil and checking the fluids, checking your air filter and regular maintenance, regular car washing preserves your vehicle’s value as well. Knowing the best weather to wash your car in can impact your vehicle for better or for worse.

Get started with these car maintenance and cleaning tips and tricks.

It goes without saying that wet weather is certainly not the best weather for car washing, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give your car some love in the colder months. While snow and rain can make it seem impossible to keep up your vehicle’s exterior, it’s important you do, to keep the dirt and grime from corroding the metals of the car’s undercarriage. Just be sure the temperature is above freezing, since frozen water on the outside of your car can lead to frozen doors, locks and more.

And, of course, don’t forget about cleaning the inside of your car!

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the best weather for washing your car in is not when it’s super hot. On a scorching hot summer’s day, dousing your car with water beneath direct sunlight can ruin the vehicle’s finish. The hot metal on your car will only steam off the water you douse it with, while the soap simply builds up and combines with the grime. Meanwhile, the remaining moisture only attracts the sun’s heat. If you have a new car with base/clear-coat paint, the very thin topcoat can lose its shine for good.

Speaking of shine, check out these 36 DIY car detailing tips.

So what’s the happy medium? Despite your desire to wash your car in the hot sun so you can cool off, you should wash your car on a cloudy, overcast morning.

Your second-best option, if the sun in out, is to wash your car in the shade, away from direct sunlight, preferably in the late afternoon.

Ready to get started? Check out this collection of the best car wash kits you can buy.