Car washing behavior in different weather conditions

Most car owners only drive to the car wash when the sun is shining. However, this is actually not the best thing for their car. Read on to find out why you should advise your customers to wash their cars even when it's raining and what they should consider in different weather conditions.

Car washing in the rain

The raindrops constantly patter on the car's paintwork, while the customer drives comfortably towards the car wash. Once they arrive, part of the work has already been done. Stubborn dirt or pollen is already softened, so the customer can skip pre-washing in most cases. Many drivers are afraid of water marks on their freshly cleaned car. They needn't worry about this. Thanks to the wax finish, the raindrops bead off the clean paintwork.

Warm, but dirty summer time

Long days of sunshine draw many people outside and onto the roads. Cars have to endure a lot in the summer. Insect debris, bird lime and pollen from trees all give the paintwork a hard time. Unfortunately, this dirt will stick. It dries on quickly and is not easy to remove. If the vehicle owner does not have a garage, the car's paint will start to look worse for wear in no time. During the hot months, you should regularly clean your vehicle. Although it is natural dirt, in conjunction with the high UV radiation, it can do a lot of harm to the paintwork.

Washing is important particularly in winter

Many car owners still cling onto the belief that it is better not to wash their cars in the winter, as the wash water could freeze in the low temperatures and cause damage. They should pay regular visits to automatic car washes or conveyor tunnel systems if they use their cars a lot. Slush and dirt gets stuck to the underside of the car, and salt and alkali attack the paintwork when it is exposed to them for too long. Always recommend an under body wash to your customers to prevent rust from constant exposure to the cold and wet. Careful polishing and a wax finish can also help protect the paintwork from caustic road salt and grit. It is particularly important in winter that the car leaves the car wash completely dry.

Towards the end of winter, the usual road salts can run out, and the public utilities resort to using grit. If this happens, you should offer touch-up pens in the most popular colors and advise your customers to carefully examine their paintwork for small scratches. After washing, they should be clearly visible. Drivers who act quickly to seal them prevent rust and greater damage.

If your customers ask you if they should wash their cars in all weather conditions, you can advise them to carry out regular cleaning, no matter what the weather. There are certain forms of dirt in all weather conditions that can attack the paintwork, and regular washing is part of the essential care of the car.

Find out in our post why automatic car washing is far superior to washing by hand!