How Often Do You Wash Your Car in the Winter?

Th only thing longer than the check out lines at the grocery store on Super Bowl Sunday were the lines at the self service car wash. On a day that was finally warm enough to make use of the equipment available at the self service car wash, drivers across the city were not only ready to celebrate their favorite team, but also ready to celebrate the fact the snow on all of the streets had finally melted.

Whether you are a fan of the latest touchless car washes, the soft cloth car washes, or the self service car washes that allow you to really focus on the worst parts of your vehicle, we all realize the frustration of winter. From the initial snow to the layers of grime that adhere to our cars as the snow melts and is made dirty by sand and gravel, there are many times in the winter when it can be days, and sometimes weeks, before the weather cooperates enough to have a car wash make sense.

Most of us know the frustration of just getting a car washed and then finding out that the forecast for tomorrow has changed, but the bottom line is sometimes during the winter months you simply have to make use of a full service car wash at some point. Getting the old dirt off before the new dirt attaches itself provides at least a small way to know that you can keep you and your car clean for at least a few hours.

Car Wash Locations Are Often Very Busy on the Sunny Days of Winter

As soon as the temperature is above freezing, many self service car washes and other kinds of car wash locations are very busy. In fact, being prepared to wait in line from 15 to 45 minutes is not uncommon if the winter has been particularly bad. Our vehicles are not only a means of transportation, they also can speak volumes about who we are as a driver. It is for this reason that many people invest in not only the initial sticker price of their car, but also in the how that car will look. For those of us who live in the parts of the country where the sand and gravel trucks are used throughout the winter realize that this is a combination that will require several trips to some kind of car wash during the winter.
Consider some of these facts and figures about the many reasons why keeping both the inside and outside of our vehicles clean is a good idea, as well as the impact that these businesses have on the nation’s economy:

• Sealer wax is the most common feature in car wash establishments’ best selling packages, with 79% of car washes offering it, according to an annual survey from the Professional Car Washing and Detailing Association. Other popular features included hot wax, dashboard cleaning, and glass cleaning.
• 39% of respondents have owned their first carwash for over 20 years, according to a professional car washing industry survey.
• 24% of respondents in the same survey indicate that they are planning on launching or purchasing another carwash within the next year.
• This same survey also indicated that 35% of respondents noted that their nearest carwash competition is under one mile away.
• The inside of a car is often one of the dirties environments in a person’s life, according to recent health studies.
• Eating in a car puts the interior at risk of harboring all kinds of germs and bacteria.
• In the last 15 years, there has been a 69% increase in vehicle owners using car wash facilities rather than washing their car themselves.
• Americans spend approximately $5.8 billion a year at car wash facilities, according to the United States Census Bureau.
• Projections indicate that the revenue of car washes in the U.S. will amount to approximately $9,951 million by the year 2022.
• By the year 2021, the number of vehicles more than 16 years old will increase by 30% to 81 million vehicles, according to IHS Markit reports. older cars often require even more cleaning to keep them looking nice.

Is the sun out today? If so, it is time for you to get in line!