'I Stopped My Car Wash Subscription:' Woman Skips Wash Because it's Raining. Is it Worth Going Through the Wash if it's Raining?

"I don’t wash it generally."

Photo by: suzjo187 & Basil Minhaj

By: Stacy Fernandez

Aug 2, 2025 at 5:00pm ET

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Are you washing your car enough? If you're only sudsing up after a bird poop incident, a mud splash or once you have so much dust or pollen that you can write in it, you’re probably doing it wrong.

Creator Suz (@suzjo187) has a specific question: Should you wash your car before it rains?

Suz explains that she has a “fairly new” car that she’s barely washed yet, and it looks like it’s due for a cleaning.

However, Suz is only able to wash her car on the weekends, and it’s consistently been raining every weekend in her area.

“So here’s my question: Is it helpful to wash a car even if it’s going to rain the next day?” Suz asks in a TikTok.

How Often Should You Wash Your Car?

Experts recommend washing your car about every two weeks, even if it doesn’t look visibly dirty.

According to AAA, regular washes protect your car’s paint from long-term damage caused by environmental buildup—things like pollen, tree sap, bird droppings, and general grime. These might seem harmless, but over time, they can eat away at the paint, dull the finish, and lead to corrosion.

If you live near the coast or in a place where roads are salted in the winter, that timeline shortens. Consumer Reports recommends rinsing your car every 10 days during snow season or after driving through salty conditions. Salt is especially corrosive and tends to build up underneath the car, which is why frequent undercarriage washes are key.

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Saves Money Over Time

A regular car wash isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s preventive maintenance.

Letting dirt, salt, or bugs sit on your car’s exterior can lead to rust and paint damage, which can be expensive to repair, Progressive reports.

The insurer notes that even a few days of exposure to acidic splatter, like bird droppings or bug guts, can start to wear down your car’s protective coating.

Neglecting the undercarriage can be particularly costly. It’s often overlooked, but it’s where corrosion tends to start, especially in colder climates where salt is used on roads. Over time, that rust can affect not just the body of the car, but its structural components and resale value, too.

Rain Isn’t Enough

“Absolutely wash your car weekly, it's one of my favorite things to do (I wash it at home),” a person said.

“I stopped my car wash subscription. Not only was it getting pricey, but the damage to my vehicle was just too much. My front license plate is torn more than 3/4 of the way through from the ‘touchless’ washer arms. And then there’s all the other things that they’d have to detail off my car 1-2X a year,” another shared.

If a car wash does damage your car, such as with malfunctioning or faulty equipment, you should report it to the manager, as the business could be liable. If they refuse to pay, you can always take the matter to court. Your insurer may also cover the damage.

“I don’t wash it generally. Better things to do with my time/money,” a commenter wrote.

“Does the rain use soap and wash the underside and your tires? I get a mini detail and they scrub the inside and vacuum it. Does the rain clean the inside of your car? Go to a car wash,” another said snarkily.

Suz took the advice of people on team wash.

“Caved and went to the car wash,” Suz said in a follow-up video. “I gotta tell you, that is the best money I have spent. Like, the joy I have looking at my car so clean and I really really vacuumed everything inside,” she adds.

“I feel like I just got out of a nice cold shower after a boiling hot day.”

Motor1 reached out to Suz for comment via TikTok direct message and comment. We'll update this article if we hear back.