[Mark07]

My neighbour takes great pride in his car and washes it at least twice a week… even in the rain.

I’m envious of his commitment, but I tend to take a different approach. I’m sorry to say that my car can go a few months without being cleaned and the inside likely gets a valet twice a year.

I sense that I need to up my game but, how often should we wash our cars?

[Drivingforfun]

I tend to do the inside quite regularly because it's obviously where I am so I want it to be nice, I'm less fussy about the outside. Maybe once every 6 weeks!!

If time is a factor I'm guessing washing more often but less thoroughly is better but might be wrong? So a quick once over with a sponge every week as opposed to thoroughly "detailing" it once a month ... might be a reason that's wrong though

[Beelzebub]

I'm with Mark. Mine gets washed every few months, usually by a machine. I've had my current car seven months - it's been washed once, and it now needs doing again. Probably not this week with the weather, and indeed the rain may help!

I haven't washed one myself for years.

[olduser]

I think it used be in the Vauxhall hand book, something about a cleaned car drove better, and lasted longer.

Mini's got washed when dirty, it was the easiest way of checking for rust on the inside-out seams.

I once had a new Mini treated with Waxoyl preservative. (not sure it is still available but a treatment involved drilling holes in all the hollow section and then inserting a mini spray nozzle and coating the inside)
The car was coated everywhere with a soft wax carried in a solvent, the idea was it would penetrate into all the nooks and crannies. (my spelling checker insists it should be grannies!)

Anyway, when I collected the car, the guy said, there's good news and bad news, good news is it's finished.
Oh god, big breath, what's the bad?
Don't wash it for a month!
OK, breath out...

[Rolebama]

To be honest. I only wash mine when they 'look' grubby. I have owned a number of different colour cars, and some look grubby within days of their last wash. So, every week, or every three months or so.
As to the interiors, I smoke, so whenever I miss the ashtray my wife is out there with the hoover etc.