Should you dry your car after it rains?

Rainwater might be natural, but it's not a good substitute for a regular car wash, and leaving your car uncared for after a long rain shower can be detrimental to its long-term health. This is because rainwater is not as clean as you might think it is.

Is it OK to dry car after rain?

Place a portable dehumidifier in the vehicle and roll the windows up. If you have a portable dehumidifier handy put it in your vehicle's back seat or trunk (if you have an SUV) with the doors closed and windows rolled up. Doing this will pull and residual moisture out of the vehicle's fabrics.

Should you rinse your car after it rains?

If you can't wash your car before the rain, then it's best to have it washed right after the rain. This will remove the contaminants, or water marks, before they have time to deeply etch into the paint. If these marks have time to bake into the paint, you'll need professional vehicle detailing to remove them.

Should I dry up my car or let it air dry?

You should always dry your car after washing it to prevent water spots accumulating on the surface. Water spots can corrode your car's paint and are difficult to remove. Never air dry your car after washing, instead, use a clean, plush microfiber towel.

Is it good to just rinse your car?

Washing your car with just water will not remove much dirt, can cause water spots and result in scratches if you use a mitt or sponge without a shampoo. You should only ever rinse without washing if you are using distilled water, or have a hydrophobic coating and plan to drive the car afterwards.

How To Dry Rainwater Off Your Car - Chemical Guys Car Detailing

How long does it take for a car to air dry?

It depends on how the seats were cleaned and the current outside temperature, but from our experience, if it's relatively warm outside, the seats will be 90% dry within 2.5 hours. If it's cold outside or there's overcast, it can take 3 to 5 hours to dry.

How do you take care of your car after it rains?

Is rain water bad for car paint?

Rain can be acidic which may cause damage to your vehicle's paint or body over time. Rain can also bring harmful pollutants or particulates which can stain or damage the vehicle's surface.

Does rain water cause rust on cars?

Rain. Rust happens when a material that contains iron is exposed to moisture. When the two substances come into contact with each other, it causes an atomic reaction that results in oxidation. The most obvious way for moisture to come into contact with the metal in your car is rain.

How do I stop my car from rusting in the rain?

Wax or a quick detailer can help prevent rain damage by putting a protective coating around the car, almost like an invisible layer that will cause the water to run off faster and dry quicker. Plus, the less wet a car is, the less airborne debris it will collect.

Should you wash your car before it rains?

If there's rain in the forecast, plan to contact us and Shiny Car Detailing will come to you. Washing your car before or after rain will prevent the appearance of an unkempt vehicle. Even if you have to drive in rain every day, a properly protected vehicle will look a lot better once the rain dries.

What does rain do to a car?

Rain water evaporates and leaves a layer of pollutants that damages your car's paint. This is similar to what acid rain can do to your car because as said earlier, rain water collects pollutants. As such, you need to wash your car after the rain in order to minimize the harmful effects it can bring to your car's paint.

What happens if you dont dry your car?

Allowing your car to air dry means minerals in the water will be left on the paint's surface. At the very least, you'll end up with water spots that can be hard to remove. If you ignore these water spots and continue onto other steps, however, there's a chance you will scratch your paint.

What happens when you don't dry your car?

Water spots are the reason you don't just let your car air dry. The water you use will leave mineral deposits after it evaporates, and if left long enough can etch into your paint.

Can I use a bath towel to dry my car?

You'd figure there's no difference between drying yourself off after a shower and drying off your car after it gets washed. Although the towel does soak up some of the water from the car, it's also scratching your paint. These results are very common to see in cars.

What is the best time to wash your car?

For the best results, wash your car in the summer during moderate temperatures in the mid-morning, evening, or on a cloudy day when there is little direct sunlight and low winds.

Why you shouldn't cover your car?

When a car is sitting in the outdoor elements like rain and snow, it's possible for moisture to get trapped under the car cover, which can in turn do damage to your car's paint.

Is it OK to cover a wet car?

You should not cover a wet car as the trapped water might cause formation of mold and can also leave water marks on the paints surface.

Do car washes prevent rust?

A full service car wash can help to reduce the risk of rust on exterior surfaces as it can properly remove key elements that lead to rust. The car wash can also help renew the protective coating on the paint. As previously noted, the underbody of your car is not exempt of the threat of rust.

How often should you wash your car?

As a general rule of thumb, you should wash your vehicle every two weeks. That is if you're not driving down dirt roads daily or in an area where salt is used on the highways. This is under normal wear and tear circumstances.

Is Touchless car wash better?

By utilizing water pressure, touchless car washes are more likely to utilize better soap qualities to assist with lifting dirt and grime more effectively. Many of the touchless washes have also begun utilizing heated water to help break down the wax finishes and contaminations found on your vehicle's surface.

Is it worth washing car in winter?

It is actually critical that you clean your car during winter because, during this time of the year, your vehicle can pick up a lot of salt mixtures and deposits. Since the roads are usually coated with layers of salt to minimize slippery skidding incidents, salt build-ups are inevitable.

Do car covers do more harm than good?

Buying the wrong kind of car cover may cause more harm than good. The last thing you want is to buy a cover to protect your vehicle, only to find out you caused the harm with a lousy cover. The wrong kind of cover could damage the paint and lead to corrosion and rust.