How often should I be washing my car in this weather?

[fiju]

There's a lot of salt and crap on the road, and I've been doing a lot of motorway miles. The car looks filthy, no doubt it's gotten into every crevice. I'd preferably wash it once a week but who's got time for that? So what's a reasonable interval to wash it and prevent rust?

[LosingGrip]

Daily.

[Blue Oval84]

Scientifically, I guess the correct answer would be to wash it every time they stop gritting the road thanks to a break in the weather.

If the roads are gritted every day round your way, and it gets coated in salt again as soon as you drive it, then you've wasted your time washing it.

Only any point in doing it when there's a break in the gritting, that way after you clean it, it stays clear of salt for a meaningful length of time.

In all honesty though, if you drive a very modern car, I'd probably not worry about it. My 13 year old S60 didn't have a trace of rust on it and I certainly didn't wash it every week during the winter.

[Alucidnation]

Got to be at least every hour surely?

Quality of materials used in manufacturing there days is very low so it’s needs all the help it can get.

[jamei303]

Haven't washed mine since it was delivered new last July.

[magpie215]

Are you going to jetwash the underside?

This is where most cars lose the rust battle.

[fiju]

It's a 2000 merc so I need to keep on top of it. It's surprisingly clean, however I have spotted a small bubble coming through one panel.

If I can get the car wash people to do the underside, then yes.