How Long You Should Wait After Repair to Wash Your Car?

Getting your car back after it’s had bodywork is a great feeling. It’s likely that the body shop thoroughly washed it prior to releasing it back to you. You’ll also be given the proper instructions regarding how to care for your car’s new paint job so you can enjoy it for years to come.

Typical Instructions After Body Work

One of the most important instructions you’ll receive regarding the care of your car’s paint job is to wait a certain amount of time before you wash or wax it. While some body shops state that you can use car wash solution and gentle pressure to hand wash your car, others recommend that you stick to plain water to gently spray road grime off your car — and then only if it’s absolutely necessary. Hard scrubbing and the use of mechanical car washes are typically not recommended.

Regardless of the recommendations regarding washing your vehicle after the bodywork is complete, nearly all body shops will caution you against waxing it for a certain length of time. The typical recommendation ranges from 30 to 90 days — depending on the body shop.

Why Should You Wait?

New paint contains solvents that must be “outgassed” or released naturally in order to allow the paint to properly cure. If these solvents are not able to do so, the result could be that your brand-new paint job will look dull.

In some cases, the actual recommendations by your body shop will depend on the particular service you received. It’s important to follow their instructions so you receive the performance and value you expect from their services.