Angie's LIST Guide to
Maintaining your vehicle's appearance

Getting your car washed and waxed on a regular basis is one of the easiest ways to preserve its paint and keep it looking nice. Not only does it provide a point of pride for you, the driver, regular car washes help slow down the normal wear and tear that every vehicle’s exterior undergoes. Removing other environmental contaminants such as road salt, sap, tar and bugs in a timely manner also goes a long way to making your car’s paint and clear coat last longer.

But many wonder: How frequently should I wash my car? The answer depends first of all on personal preference and the vehicle you own. If you just purchased a brand-new luxury vehicle that still fumes with “new car” smell, you might want to wash your vehicle as frequently as once a week to keep it shiny and bright. But if you’re driving a beat-up rust bucket of truck, you may never wash your car.

Other factors like dark paint colors that show dirt and grime easily, can factor into how frequently you wash your car. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Walter K.)

For everyone else in the middle of those two extremes, a number of factors can influence the decision:

• Driving conditions: Do you live in a rural area with gravel or dirt roads or driveways? The dust kicked up and caked onto your paint means you’ll want to wash your car more frequently.
• Season: The grime and dust from road salt in the winter can do corrosive damage to your vehicle’s underbody and paint. Hitting bugs in the summer can have a similar effect.
• Parking location: If you’re not fortunate enough to park your car in a garage every night, parking underneath trees that drop sap or in areas prone to gatherings of birds that drop bird stuff should convince you to wash your car often.
• Commute distance and conditions: If your daily commute involves long distances on the highway, your car’s exterior will be exposed to more road grime and bug strikes than a vehicle with a short non-highway commute, necessitating washing your car more frequently.

At a minimum, it’s a good idea to get your vehicle washed at least every two to three weeks to keep dirt and grime from building up on the exterior. If your drive involves the conditions mentioned above, you may want to wash your vehicle more frequently.

By hiring an auto detailing company, you can largely avoid the possibility of damage to your vehicle as well as protect its appearance and value. One common misconception about auto detailing work – which can include washing, waxing and detailing the exterior and vacuuming, deep cleaning and detailing the interior – is that the service is prohibitively expensive.

However, if you consider that a washing, waxing or detailing work performed by a professional will significantly extend the life and improve the appearance of your vehicle, along with the fact that over the long term it can help retain the vehicle’s resale value, having the work done can prove to be a worthwhile investment.

The cost for many detailing services such as basic washes or interior cleanings can start at less than $100. More comprehensive services such as full exterior or interior details can cost several hundred dollars, while more advanced processes such as paint color correction or ding, dent or chip repairs may cost thousands.

Engine bay detailing is an option that can help increase your car's value at resale (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Anthony M.)

Consider some of the benefits to having a professional provide detailing work for your car:

1. Improved resale value, higher selling price
A vehicle that’s been well maintained will always demand a higher selling price and this holds true for its appearance, too. An exterior that’s been cleaned and waxed regularly will show less wear and tear and the paint and clear coat will be more durable in the long run. Inside, regular thorough detailing such as vacuuming every nook and cranny and shampooing the carpets will help a car hold its new-car feel.

2. Convenience
Not only will you save yourself the time and hassle of washing, waxing and vacuuming your car by hiring a detailing professional, it can also be more convenient. Many auto detailing shops off pick-up and drop-off services as well as mobile detailing so your car never has to leave the driveway.

3. Fewer penalties when returning a leased vehicle
When returning a leased vehicle, lessees can often be penalized for not keeping up maintenance on the vehicle including the paint job and interior and upholstery. Having these items detailed on a regular basis can be an investment that saves you from ponying up cash for lease-return penalties.

4. Faster sale turnaround
Everybody loves that “new car” look, feel and smell  – even if they’re buying a used car. A car with a recent thorough detail will sell faster than one that hasn’t been cleaned by a professional.

5. Peace of mind
Spills happen. Getting a professional to help remove any spills, stains or other accidents using tried-and-true methods not only saves you elbow grease, it also ensures the stain or spill has been removed or neutralized as effectively as possible.