how often to wash?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 126
Likes: 3
From: Hatfield, Pa.
how often to wash?
Hello,
Seems like a stupid question, but considering the cars problem areas for rusting(i have a 69), how often should the car be washed with water without having to worry about rusting birdcage etc..? How often do you wash it? Maybe I am concerned about nothing, but curious anyway.
Seems like a stupid question, but considering the cars problem areas for rusting(i have a 69), how often should the car be washed with water without having to worry about rusting birdcage etc..? How often do you wash it? Maybe I am concerned about nothing, but curious anyway.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,077
Likes: 334
From: Dallas TX
St. Jude Donor '06-'09,'22,'25
I've had my '69 for 15 years and it's never been washed. Lives in the garage under a cover and gets wiped down after every drive.
So my answer... never
As Mike says, how often does it need it?
So my answer... never
As Mike says, how often does it need it?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 2,193
From: Loveland
A friend of mine washed his car every day on his way home from work,,,,,, way over kill. A car kept in a garage does get dusty, use a duster to clean it. Freshen it up by cleaning the windows. Don't drive it in the rain or wet roads. Wipe it down real good when you do wash it. I don't power spray in the seams and cracks, as much as I can. Nice hot days will dry it out fast. Shouldn't need washing that often, maybe every 2 months. If you park it outside in a wet humid rainy climate, all bets are off.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If you wipe the exterior down with detailer spray every time you drive it and never let anything collect on the exterior surfaces, you may never have to wash THAT portion of the car.
But, the engine compartment collects dust, dirt, oil mist, etc. and NEEDS a good washing every now and then (3 months for me), so I take it to the quarter car wash and manually pre-soak, then wash down the engine compartment area. And, the undercarriage needs similar work to keep it from accumulating road 'crud'....assuming that you actually drive it on occasion.
P.S. If you don't like having bare metal parts rust/corrode just due to moisture in the air while the car is just sitting, you should consider putting [similar] metal-colored paint or clear lacquer on ALL bare metal parts whenever you do repair work on the car. This would include doing the same to any NEW bare parts. Doing so makes it a very easy job to keep the car looking good without doing a ton of hand-work because of the 'bare parts' issue.
But, the engine compartment collects dust, dirt, oil mist, etc. and NEEDS a good washing every now and then (3 months for me), so I take it to the quarter car wash and manually pre-soak, then wash down the engine compartment area. And, the undercarriage needs similar work to keep it from accumulating road 'crud'....assuming that you actually drive it on occasion.
P.S. If you don't like having bare metal parts rust/corrode just due to moisture in the air while the car is just sitting, you should consider putting [similar] metal-colored paint or clear lacquer on ALL bare metal parts whenever you do repair work on the car. This would include doing the same to any NEW bare parts. Doing so makes it a very easy job to keep the car looking good without doing a ton of hand-work because of the 'bare parts' issue.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
I also have never washed mine. I just keep it clean with California duster a water squirt bottle when needed and use mothers instant detailer with a microfiber cloth to get a good shine. Every 5 years maybe I do clay bar it and fix any swirls with swirl remover then wax it as needed. I do keep it garaged and covered when not being driven much such as in the winter.
The underside is all undercoated (from original purchaser) so it does not require any maintenance.
Under the hood does not seem to get too dirty either. But if it gets dusty I might used compressed air to blow it out.
The underside is all undercoated (from original purchaser) so it does not require any maintenance.
Under the hood does not seem to get too dirty either. But if it gets dusty I might used compressed air to blow it out.
Disabled by request 8 JUN 2025
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 329
Likes: 94
From: St. Augustine, FL
Unlike all you lucky guys that have a garage, my '81 is a Florida driveway car under a large oak tree. Well, I do have a one car garage and three cars, but you know what happens to the inside of a one car garage. LOL.......I do however wash the car maybe once every couple of months. I put a light cover on it almost as soon as I pull in the driveway. Dust it with a California Duster once in a while, but liberally clean it with Maguires Detail Spray before each cruise in. Gotta work with the cards I've been dealt.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 579
From: Pittsburgh PA
I just don’t get this “never wash it” thing?
the bird cage is not going to rust sitting in your garage if you wash it.
I wash mine whenever they need it. Usually dusty enough I at least wipe off behind the rear wheels after every drive.
**** I’m not even finished with my 66 project and I’ve probably washed it 20 times just getting dirty sitting in the garage working
the bird cage is not going to rust sitting in your garage if you wash it.
I wash mine whenever they need it. Usually dusty enough I at least wipe off behind the rear wheels after every drive.
**** I’m not even finished with my 66 project and I’ve probably washed it 20 times just getting dirty sitting in the garage working
Last edited by Tiger Joe; Apr 7, 2021 at 09:37 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 904
Likes: 569
From: Central NJ
I was surprised at this thread, never washing?? I drive my car often (3-4 times a week) weather permitting and it gets really dusty behind the wheels. What about bugs, I think getting them off without water would cause surface damage or swirls.
I give it a gentle wash as needed keeping the water mostly below the glass and the hose is on a gentle mist so I can control it, very little water... Blow dry it with a leaf blower and follow up with Lucas Speed shine... I do dust it here and there but I think that does more swirl damage than it does good...
I have some Harleys and many owners are also meticulous about cleaning them, mine are nice enough but I ride them a lot more than I clean them...
My buddy dusts his car if we stop for coffee and it looks really nice all the time, it's just not me,,,
60
I give it a gentle wash as needed keeping the water mostly below the glass and the hose is on a gentle mist so I can control it, very little water... Blow dry it with a leaf blower and follow up with Lucas Speed shine... I do dust it here and there but I think that does more swirl damage than it does good...
I have some Harleys and many owners are also meticulous about cleaning them, mine are nice enough but I ride them a lot more than I clean them...
My buddy dusts his car if we stop for coffee and it looks really nice all the time, it's just not me,,,
60
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 126
Likes: 3
From: Hatfield, Pa.
Yes, I agree , cleaning car without water might cause paint scratches (miniscule), and it seems you are pushing dirt around on the paint. I suppose if car is kept meticulously clean though it might not be much of an issue. I keep my car in the garage under a cover, but I still have issues with some dust accumulation on it and use swiffer duster to clean it off. My garage itself is like a dust magnet even though I keep it swept or blown out with a leaf blower. I suspect it is because the doors face the west and the wind continually blows from that direction and brings in dust and dirt.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,652
Likes: 629
From: Rural North West NV
[QUOTE=C6-CYa;1603273463]As I said, I never wash it. Paint is 20 years old and looks new, there isn't one swirl mark or scratch. Why would I wash it?[/QUOTE]
Because it got dirty?
I've had my current C3 for a week now and have already washed it twice. Of course, I live in a desert and the wind blows constantly plus, I live a mile up a dirt road. Oh, and the car is black.
My C5 is red so doesn't show the dirt quite as much but still gets dusty. I usually blow the dust off with air from compressor or cordless leave blower then use a duster. After a while though it just gets too dirty so I have to wash them.
I'm considering doing the ceramic coating as i think it will make it easier to blow off dust and dirt.
Because it got dirty?
I've had my current C3 for a week now and have already washed it twice. Of course, I live in a desert and the wind blows constantly plus, I live a mile up a dirt road. Oh, and the car is black.
My C5 is red so doesn't show the dirt quite as much but still gets dusty. I usually blow the dust off with air from compressor or cordless leave blower then use a duster. After a while though it just gets too dirty so I have to wash them.I'm considering doing the ceramic coating as i think it will make it easier to blow off dust and dirt.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 62
From: Gainesville, Florida
I just don’t get this “never wash it” thing?
the bird cage is not going to rust sitting in your garage if you wash it.
I wash mine whenever they need it. Usually dusty enough I at least wipe off behind the rear wheels after every drive.
**** I’m not even finished with my 66 project and I’ve probably washed it 20 times just getting dirty sitting in the garage working
the bird cage is not going to rust sitting in your garage if you wash it.
I wash mine whenever they need it. Usually dusty enough I at least wipe off behind the rear wheels after every drive.
**** I’m not even finished with my 66 project and I’ve probably washed it 20 times just getting dirty sitting in the garage working
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 174
From: Fort Wayne IN
Bucket of warm water, dish soap, old towel, chamois to dry. If I'm feeling real motivated I might smear some turtle wax on it a few times a year.
My car is to be enjoyed, not stored in a bubble.
My car is to be enjoyed, not stored in a bubble.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9,063
Likes: 2,736
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
If the question of washing is defining how you wash it, I get that. Do you spray the car down with a water hose, like most do with daily drivers. Or the car can be washed with a small hand spray bottle filled with whatever and carefully control the water on the car. It obviously can be done either way. I have used a hose carefully directed down the body lines, to remove dust, and then spray bottle up around windshield area. I can tell you in western PA, if you drive the car much, there will be bugs on the front end and windshield. So,....for those that NEVER wash their car, in any manner, I suspect you are rarely driving the car. I didn't build the car to sit in a garage, and driving a Corvette is one of the pleasures of my life.........bugs or not. And with a two part professional paint job, any scratches can easily be removed with compounds / wax. Its only perfect once, right after its painted,.....then paint chips, wear, scratches......so what. They call it patina! Which is earned. By driving.
Note: In the winter, after a season of driving, I put the car up on the Quick Jack and detail the underside, including waxing the frame. My car still looks as good underneath as the day I finished the restoration.
Note: In the winter, after a season of driving, I put the car up on the Quick Jack and detail the underside, including waxing the frame. My car still looks as good underneath as the day I finished the restoration.
Last edited by Shovels and Vettes; Apr 18, 2021 at 05:57 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 62
From: Gainesville, Florida
There is this member on a Mercedes forum that I belong to that has a 2009 SL55. He claims to have waxed his car over 4500 times. He also claims to wax it an average of once every day sometimes twice. Now I know this isn’t a full blown out hand wax job, possibly one of those spray and wipe jobs with a ceramic
spray wax. But for someone to actually become that obsessed with cleaning a car is far beyond OCD. I mean, that’s almost as bad as catching the **** as it falls from your newborn baby’s *** just so you can say that it never touched it’s bottom. Good Grief.
spray wax. But for someone to actually become that obsessed with cleaning a car is far beyond OCD. I mean, that’s almost as bad as catching the **** as it falls from your newborn baby’s *** just so you can say that it never touched it’s bottom. Good Grief.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
There is this member on a Mercedes forum that I belong to that has a 2009 SL55. He claims to have waxed his car over 4500 times. He also claims to wax it an average of once every day sometimes twice. Now I know this isn’t a full blown out hand wax job, possibly one of those spray and wipe jobs with a ceramic
spray wax. But for someone to actually become that obsessed with cleaning a car is far beyond OCD. I mean, that’s almost as bad as catching the **** as it falls from your newborn baby’s *** just so you can say that it never touched it’s bottom. Good Grief.
spray wax. But for someone to actually become that obsessed with cleaning a car is far beyond OCD. I mean, that’s almost as bad as catching the **** as it falls from your newborn baby’s *** just so you can say that it never touched it’s bottom. Good Grief.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9,063
Likes: 2,736
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Mentally Ill
There is this member on a Mercedes forum that I belong to that has a 2009 SL55. He claims to have waxed his car over 4500 times. He also claims to wax it an average of once every day sometimes twice. Now I know this isn’t a full blown out hand wax job, possibly one of those spray and wipe jobs with a ceramic
spray wax. But for someone to actually become that obsessed with cleaning a car is far beyond OCD. I mean, that’s almost as bad as catching the **** as it falls from your newborn baby’s *** just so you can say that it never touched it’s bottom. Good Grief.
spray wax. But for someone to actually become that obsessed with cleaning a car is far beyond OCD. I mean, that’s almost as bad as catching the **** as it falls from your newborn baby’s *** just so you can say that it never touched it’s bottom. Good Grief.