How often to wash a car in the Arizona sun
Every one to two weeks for most cars, more often when the paint is dark, the car sleeps outside or the trees drip sap.
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Washing too rarely costs more than washing too often. Here is the schedule we suggest, and why it is different from what works in wetter places.
Dust is abrasive
Desert dust is fine sand. Wiping it off dry, or leaving it to bake, scratches the clear coat. A wash every week or two keeps it from building up.
Dark paint and outdoor parking
Black and dark blue cars show water spots and swirls first. If yours lives outside, weekly is right, and a sealant or coating makes each wash easier.
Bird droppings and sap
Both are acidic and both etch in the sun within a day or two. Rinse them off as soon as you see them, even between washes.
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