How often should you wash your car in UK weather?

Wash more often in winter

Winter roads leave salt, grit and persistent traffic film across the lower bodywork, sills, wheels and wheel arches, which are the areas you cannot easily see. Cars driven regularly on treated or muddy roads may need cleaning more often than cars kept off the road. There is more on this in our guide to winter car cleaning on West Berkshire roads.

Country roads create their own problems

Around Lambourn and the surrounding villages, wet lanes can quickly cover a car in mud and road film. Do not wait for a fixed date if number plates, lights, windows or mirrors are becoming difficult to see through. This is the main reason our Lambourn round runs weekly and fortnightly rather than monthly.

Deal with bird mess and tree sap promptly

Bird mess and tree deposits are easier to deal with before they dry hard. Avoid scraping them away, because dragging grit across the paint can mark the surface. Soften the deposit and use a suitable, gentle method, or ask a professional if you are unsure.

A useful schedule for most drivers

Judge by the vehicle, not the calendar. A garaged weekend car may need much less frequent attention, while a daily-driven car parked outside may need cleaning more often.

• Every two to four weeks for typical everyday use
• Sooner after sustained winter salt or heavy mud
• Promptly for bird mess or stubborn tree deposits
• Before a long journey if glass, lights or plates are dirty
• Before photographs, an event or selling the vehicle

Method matters as much as frequency

Frequent poor washing can cause more cosmetic damage than a careful, less frequent clean. Clean tools, suitable products and a method that avoids rubbing loose grit over the paint are more important than chasing an exact number of washes per month.