Should a car be washed immediately after being exposed to rainwater?

When the rainy season arrives, cars are more prone to getting dirty with mud, dust, and dirt carried by the rainwater. However, many car owners do not immediately clean their vehicles, even though this can damage the paint and car parts.

Mencuci Mobil Foto:

Muchlis, the owner of a Toyota and Mitsubishi specialty workshop at Garasi Auto Service, suggests that cars should be washed immediately after being exposed to rain. He believes that rainwater contains acid that can cause rust, so it's better to wash the car right after it rains," he told Kompas.com on Tuesday (1/10/2024).

Iwan, the owner of Iwan Motor Honda Auto Clinic, also shares a similar opinion. He considers it important to wash the car after rain to remove dirt. "It's better to wash the car to remove stains quickly, or at least rinse it if time is limited," he said.

On the other hand, Christopher Sebastian, CEO of Makko Group, explains that it's not always necessary to wash the car immediately after rain.

He emphasizes the importance of rinsing the car after rain to clean off dirt. According to him, this action is quite effective in preventing the growth of fungus that can damage the car's paint.

Christopher also notes that rainwater contains acidic substances that are not good for the car's body and glass.

"Upon arriving home, it's advisable to clean the car immediately with plain water and dry it thoroughly," he suggests. He advises against letting the car dry on its own after rain, as this can cause the glass to become moldy and the car's paint to become dull.