# How often do you wash your car? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 17, 2025, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050 "2025-10-17T13:18:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/61 "2025-10-18T13:45:21Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Once or twice a year. This. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/62 "2025-10-18T13:57:28Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > So I use it practically every day. I’ll even go through when it’s raining out. I paid for it and they don’t carry over. I think there’s some chiropractor who offers the same deal on rectal exams. 👍 😀 > [@pkbites](#): > > does a quick vaccine Yeah auto correct but would be a good deal!! ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/63 "2025-10-18T15:30:29Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Here’s a poll with choices that more thoroughly covers the actual spectrum of Doper carwashing. Not thoroughly enough! I go through a gas station car wash (usually a brushless one) about quarterly 🙂. About once a year I go to a dedicated car wash where they vacuum the inside and wipe down the console, inside the windows and whatnot. I don’t need a shiny car, but I also don’t like a really dusty one you can draw pictures on and my car lives in an enclosed concete garage that slowly accumulates dust. So the above schedule about satisfies my happy medium. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/64 "2025-10-18T15:36:39Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Not thoroughly enough! Apparently not. You’ll notice my carefully chosen weasel words: “more thoroughly”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/65 "2025-10-18T15:53:56Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > I wash mine in the driveway This is illegal in my jurisdiction. Water protection laws prohibit uncontrolled runoff of wastewater. You have to use a commercial car-wash facility (drive through or park and hand wash) which properly traps runoff, or make an appointment for a specialist to take your car. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/66 "2025-10-18T16:04:21Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > > [@pkbites](#): > > > > So I use it practically every day. I’ll even go through when it’s raining out. I paid for it and they don’t carry over. > > I think there’s some chiropractor who offers the same deal on rectal exams I’ll bite. I don’t get it. And since when do chiropractors give rectal exams? I’d change docs if I was you. 😲 ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/67 "2025-10-18T16:42:47Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Here’s a poll with choices that more thoroughly covers the actual spectrum of Doper carwashing. Thanks, my good man! ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/68 "2025-10-18T17:04:43Z")
I go to the car wash about every 2 or 3 weeks, or whenever I notice the car needs it. Living in an area where it rains/drizzles for weeks at a time, there’s not much point in going more often than that. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/69 "2025-10-18T17:12:41Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > I don’t need a shiny car, but I also don’t like a really dusty one you can draw pictures on Same here. I like to keep it “nice looking,” which, to my way of thinking, doesn’t require it to be completely spotless. I guess my biggest criterion is that want to be able to think that if someone gives it a casual, disinterested glance as they walk past it in a parking lot, they’ll get the general impression that it’s clean. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/70 "2025-10-18T17:14:40Z")
Getting a thumb up my butt (the emoji of how a chiropractor would do it) every day because it doesn’t cost me any more is as appealing and as logical. Free except for even six minutes of my time for something that gives me no value is still no bargain. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/71 "2025-10-18T17:23:28Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > for something that gives me no value is still no bargain Of course it gives me value. The underbody flush gets dirt and gunk out and my truck gets dirty even if it’s raining. And the less I use it the more the per wash price goes up. That’s the way to think about it. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/72 "2025-10-18T17:38:29Z")
Once a year, whether it needs it or not. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/73 "2025-10-18T17:41:37Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Of course it gives me value. The underbody flush gets dirt and gunk out and my truck gets dirty even if it’s raining. Depending on your location, the sun can be quite harsh, too. I’ve had cars whose finish began to corrode from neglect. At the very least, occasionally spraying down the interior with Armor All keeps the seats and dash from drying out and cracking. I suppose maintaining the condition of your vehicle might not be considered worthwhile for some, but there is in fact a demonstrable difference in value between a car that is well maintained and one that is not. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/74 "2025-10-18T17:52:41Z")
My truck is 7 years old and people often comment how it still looks new. On the outside. Inside it’s a mess. I get my truck and my Corvette (which is already in storage for winter) interior professionally cleaned in the spring. I’m too lazy and well off to do it myself. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/75 "2025-10-18T18:16:04Z")
I buy a contract from a local car wash for the winter months, and wash the car (with an underwash) after every snow storm. My goal is to remove salt from the undercarriage. That can be every week in the winter, but i never wash the car between the final wash after the final snow storm, and the first snow storm of the winter. So o picked “other” in the second poll I enjoy going through the car wash. But it’s also a little out of the way. So i pretty much only do it when the car needs it. (That is, when there’s salt on the car.) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/76 "2025-10-18T21:38:18Z")
For sale. Ran when parked. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/77 "2025-10-19T01:25:05Z")
Kind of interesting, if the car is clean in the Colorado mountains, it screams “That’s a rental car, they are lost and be wary of them” Dirty cars mean you are ‘local’. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/78 "2025-10-19T01:50:29Z")
I fall in there, but closer to the “less than once a week” than never. I’d say bi-monthly is about right- whenever it starts to get kind of obviously dirty, I get it washed. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/79 "2025-10-19T01:53:05Z")
> [@bump](#): > > obviously dirty That’s a highly subjective metric! ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050/80 "2025-10-19T01:55:47Z")
Yeah, I think if I had a more measurable one, I’d probably get it washed more often than I do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wash-your-car/1024050.md?page=5)