April Showers

As I was driving home in the rain the other day, It occurred to me that my car was getting washed. Then it occurred to me that this didn’t include a waxing. It is important to maintain your car inside and out for better performance.

“As absurd as it sounds, regular car washes will help to improve your car’s overall fuel economy. A layer of dirt on your car increases drag, causing it to use more fuel.2A washed and clean car allows for air to move more easily across its surface” — Synchrony

Some other reasons to do a regular car wash are to protect the paint job, increases the resale value, and give you a sense of pride. Keep in mind add-ons like spray-on wax and undercarriage cleaning aren’t necessary every time and in the case of the wax, you are better off with a hand wax (Synchrony).

Ok, but don’t neglect the interior of your car. “When washing your car, don’t forget about the interior. You should clean it just as often — if not more — than the exterior, depending on your lifestyle and how much time you spend in it. For example, if you have kids or eat in your vehicle, you may want to consider more frequent interior cleanings. You may also want to apply a ceramic coating to your seats, which can help prevent stains from setting in and dust from collecting, Ganther says.” — Progressive The car wash that I go to has an option that includes vacuuming the interior and washing the mats. I try to remember to do this every quarter.

As mentioned above a hand wax is better than spray-on wax at the car wash. “Regularly waxing a car is essential because it helps preserve the clear coat over a vehicle's paint. That clear coat is the layer that protects the paint from corrosive elements, including snow, rain, street salt, ultraviolet rays, bird droppings, and tree sap, among other contaminants. The clear coat is also what gives a vehicle its shine. “ — Jessica Shea Choksey, JD Power  The general consensus is that hand wax, whether paste or spray, does a better job of protecting your car’s paint job than spray on wax at the carwash. However, this wax can extend the life of the hand wax, so you won’t have to hand wax so often (Spiffy).

So, after April showers bring May flowers, get out your wax and buffer, and get to it or pay your kid(s) to do it. As a kid, my sister and I had a book Concoctions which had a recipe for Peanut Butter Wax (pg. 6) which we used in the summer to wax the car. This is the least effective wax of all if you can even call it a wax.