Washing your car in the rain: lazy or genius? Driving around in the rain or grabbing a bucket with soap and letting rainwater do the hard work is free and reduces water spots, but the rainwater may not provide the car-wash level quality you’re looking for.
But before we jump to conclusions, let's hear both sides of the story! To help mediate this debate is the Jerry
team, the car insurance experts you can trust to keep your car protected
. We’ll comb through the pros and cons of washing your car in the rain and help you arrive at an overall conclusion. So grab your umbrella and let’s get started!
Pros of washing your car in the rain
It’s free
Mother Nature is the gift that keeps on giving—but sometimes we forget that. They say there’s no such thing as free lunch, but Mother Nature would beg to differ. So save the money you’d spend on a basic car wash and let her work her magic!
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning nowReduces water spots
Not only is rainwater free, but it’s also better at reducing water spots than traditional tap water out of the hose. This is because tap water is technically “hard water,” which means it is rich in minerals. So as the water evaporates, the minerals are left behind (i.e., your water spots).
Regular waxing will also help this. Believe it or not, car wax isn’t just for show. It also provides a layer of protection on your vehicle that helps prevent water spots from forming.
Avoid the line at the car wash
This should be reason enough to go with an all-natural rainwater wash instead of waiting in a car wash line that’s a baker’s dozen deep with vehicles.
Cons of washing your car in the rain
Not quite as effective
Admittedly, the rain only provides a surface-level cleaning for parked cars. Sometimes only a car wash can get to all hard-to-reach places on your vehicle, like the wheel wells, grille, and bumpers. Driving around while it rains will help get your car a little cleaner, but it’s still not on par with a good ol’ car wash.
Less routine
Mother Nature may be gracious, but she’s not reliable. In the summer months, there can be weeks without rainfall. Relying strictly on rain for your car washes is simply not consistent enough to prevent dirt and grime from building up on your car.
Improproper exterior maintenance on your vehicle can cause two serious problems: damage to your paint job and reduced aerodynamics.
Bottom line: Your car will only get dirtier, so don’t wait for the rain to come to you.
Acid rain
As mentioned earlier, rain is typically purer than tap water. But that’s not always the case in cities with high pollution. On the way down from the clouds, the rain collects pollutants from the air—otherwise known as acid rain.
When acid rain hits your car, it can etch into your vehicle's clear coat and give the impression of permanent water spots. In these climates, it’s almost better to hit the car wash after it rains to wash off this residue—as counterintuitive as that sounds.
MORE: How to use a Ryko, LaserWash, or self-service car wash
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Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers Conclusion
First and foremost—regardless of whether you use rainwater or a traditional car wash to clean your vehicle, regular waxing is essential to protecting the health of your car’s exterior. Both arguments benefit from this maintenance activity.
After that, each has its pros and cons. Rainwater is free, saves you time, and reduces water spots (in low pollution environments). And traditional car washes give you a deeper clean and help you maintain a better routine.
But we have an idea to combine the two arguments! Every time it rains, grab your swimsuit & soap bucket and give your vehicle a hands-on all-natural deep clean. You may get funny looks from your neighbors, but don’t worry—just tell them Jerry told you to!
Protect your vehicle with affordable car insurance
Affordable car insurance is like a good coat of wax: attractive and productive.
But unlike going to the auto parts store to pick up a fresh can of wax, the Jerry
app can find you affordable insurance quotes right from your couch. That’s right! After a few easy clicks on your phone, our trusted car insurance comparison app
quickly compares quotes from over 55 top insurance providers and pinpoints the most affordable option. Then, just make your pick, and our behind-the-scenes brokering services will help you get signed up! At the end of this simple process, the average Jerry user walks away with a whopping $800+ of average annual car insurance savings!
“Jerry
is a great service made easy for a newbie. It was my first time buying car insurance and everything was quickly taken care of. Everything was done in the app, so that was incredibly satisfying.” —August M.
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