bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Wow some of you guys must spend a bundle on washing detailing and supplies not to mention the time.

user420

Running it though the car wash often is doing more harm than good to your paint job. They usually leave fine scratches and swirls that will require some type of correction. Oh, did I mention the harsh industrial cleaners they use at those drive through washes. Take it from me as I learned the hard way on a previous vehicle I owned.

Aron9000

^ Agreed, car washes are no bueno, especially on darker colored/black cars that show swirl marks in the paint. Only time I've ever taken my car through one was to get a layer of caked on salt off of it, and that was only because it was below freezing and I couldn't use my hose to do it myself.

SW17LS

I wash them 1-2 times a week, depending on the weather that week. When clean I will dust the Lexus (the other car is parked outside) off and QD it pretty much every night, which extends the need to wash. I'll only wash it after a day of rain, which pretty much is every day here in DC this summer LOL, although I've been pretty lucky missing the rain.

coldsoda

I'd rather spend 6+ hours taking my time to clean, correct, seal, and wax the paint once a year and just detail when needed. I try to avoid contact with the paint unless necessary to avoid scratching it. Washing isn't doing any harm if done correctly (2 bucket, etc) - the time you are most likely to scratch is while drying, so use a quality microfiber or blow dry it Yes I am an addict also !

I had to wash much more often living in Rockville, MD ... out here in Phoenix its just keeping the dust off the thing.... I used to wash every week now its maybe once a month.

jimbosr1

i wash mine very very rarely because i am retired and dont drive it in the rain,however i do spray detail spray after i drive it and if i get caught in the rain i use a micro fiber rag and a bucket of warm water.
i buy detail spray on amazon by the gallon.

tex2670

My car is black--so not very long...

Nextourer

Usually a week but in the summer, up to a month if the air isn't too dusty or if birds haven't defecated or tree saps and critters aren't showered all over the car (it has happened). In the winter, it actually lasts longer as long as it doesn't rain OR if it's super cold so nothing melts. I've detailed the car in the winter (claybar & wax) and it stayed clean for nearly 30 days (late Jan to mid Feb). Deep blue in the winter sun and white landscape really stands out when everyone else has a grey car.

swfla

iTrader: (1)

Dr. says I need a full shoulder replacement. I'm more depressed about not being able to hand wash and wax her myself than about needing the surgery.

mmarshall

Well, you never know. Maybe, after you get your new artificial shoulder, it has some time to heal, you have some exercise and therapy, and you get used to it, perhaps (?) you will be able to do at least some (if not all) of the things you once did to your car. I'll be praying for your successful operation.

Jbreezie

That would be me! I try to wash my car every 2 weeks and full detail once a month. Any little touch ups with opticlean!

Sean

iTrader: (3)

As long as I can stay out of the rain, which is sometime tough here, I can go a month, with maybe a quick detail spray down in between just get rid of the dust.

My monthly wash is accompanied by a spray wax at the least, glaze and hand wax occasionally. I only full detail as needed, but its getting about that time.

Individual

iTrader: (7)

I used to wash my Lexus' every week or 2, and now with my beater, maybe every month?

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

when i'm out sometimes in a typical summer florida afternoon major 'down pour', i smile and say 'yay, it's clean'.

LexRuger

I either wash or have my car washed weekly. I dust it off daily and wipe it down with detailer as needed. So it stays pretty clean for at least 5 days out of the week. After the 5th day I don't maintain it because I know it'll get washed soon anyway.